Flying Nun Fun

[mrcleanjeans]

Who out there in washerland remembers THE FLYING NUN episode where Sister Bertrille was asked to be a spokesnun for RUB-A-DUB-DUB laundry detergent,thus could earn a new washer for the convent?She compained of the broken- down washer they had, a wringer washer.By the way , wasn't her flying fun?Because the nuns of her order wore wide, stiffly-starched wing like hats called cornettes, and because Sister Bertrille weighed only 90 lbs., when the wind was right,i.e.strong,and it usually was due to San Juan's tradewinds,Sister Bertrille could take of when bobbing her head in the breeze's direction to be air-lifted.A shrp tilt forward of her cornette, thus she landed.

 

[launderess]

Sister Bertrille always explained her flying is physics terms (more lift verus drag), but you pretty much hit on the deal.

Many female religous orders wore huge coifs or "cornettes" (which means "head covering" in French). Probably the most famous and easily spotted where the huge wing like coifs worn by the a Sisters of Charity order.

IIRC the story correctly the head dress was changed, at least for out door wear due to the invention and rapidly growing use of the automobile. Since the head dress covered both the ears and acted like "blinders" by blocking a sister's side view (a very good aide in keeping Custody of the Eyes, but bad bad for crossing a busy urban street), the sisters could neither see nor in many cases hear an approching motor car. The result usually was a fatal accident. More horror filling for the sisters is the victim would usually be sent flying from the impact and sometimes land with her habit in a very immodest fashion.

What automobiles did not do in, Vactican II did, and many orders, some reluctantly changed their centuries
old habits and coifs for modern attire.

Launderess