When does the ‘hat examination’ take place?
If you arrive just in time for the “шапочный разбор” (“shapochny razbor” or the “hat examination”) there’s no need to rush. Here’s why.
According to biblical tradition, men must remove their headwear before entering an Orthodox church. By doing so, they demonstrate that their thoughts are pure and that they are hiding nothing from God.
This custom then extended beyond the church to ordinary homes; after all, icons hung in the "krasny ugol" (“red corner”) of every house. Therefore, men would leave their hats near the entrance and retrieve them when departing. Thus, arriving at the "hat examination" meant being very late – showing up only as the gathering was coming to an end.
An English equivalent would be: “To miss the boat.”
