“Barba” is the Latin root word meaning beard thus the word Barber come from this Latin root. Early records of Barbers show that they were the principal men of their tribe. They held rank as the medicine men and also priest. Early yrs the original man was deeply superstitious and one of the early tribes’ beliefs was that good and bad spirits entered through the hair on ones head. The evil spirits could only be driven out through the shaving or cutting of ones hair thus various styles of cutting derived from different tribes and there techniques. This ritual transformed the Barber into the most important person in the community. Barbers of this day performed numerous tasks and were chief figures in religious ceremonies such as marriages and baptisms. During these ceremonies the hair was allowed to hang loose over ones shoulders so that the evil spirits could be released. After certain parts of the ceremony the long hair was cut with style by the barbers and combed back tight so that evil spirits could not get in or the good spirits get out.
This leadership by barbers was a common thing in ancient Asia. Where there were legends and superstitions about the hair, the Barbers stature grew. To this day in India, the veneration of the hair continues and those who cut and dress the hair are important figures.
