UV face masks, cooling ties: how cultures outside Europe deal with heat
Different countries, different customs: while in Germany, for instance, people tend to loosen their tie or dispense with it altogether when it is very hot, in Japan it is quickly turned into a cooling cloth,...
Different countries, different customs: while in Germany, for instance, people tend to loosen their tie or dispense with it altogether when it is very hot, in Japan it is quickly turned into a cooling cloth, in the form of cooling ties with small cold packs or special gel inserts sewn into them. Some have terry cloth on the side that rests on the neck, which also absorbs sweat.
Japan is generally seen as particularly inventive when it comes to getting through the summer. Many of these methods may seem unusual to Europeans at first, but they are based on simple physiological principles. From a scientific perspective, cooling the neck, wrists, armpits and groin is especially effective because large blood vessels run close to the skin there. This means that Japanese cooling tricks can actually have more of an impact than their slightly quirky appearance might suggest to us.
Ice rings used to cool the neck are also very popular in Japan. When the neck area is cooled, it can reduce the sensation of heat throughout the body. A colour-coordinated towel worn around the neck, which is moistened from time to time, is also often part of a typical summer outfit.
Tenugui towels, small, thin traditional cotton cloths that are dampened and discreetly worn under shirt collars, suits or hats, are also a common way of cooling down there.
Protection against overheating: a cult object from Europe’s aerobics era
In the 1980s, especially during the aerobics boom, they were a real classic in Europe: headbands (often in neon colours at the time) and matching terry sweatbands for the wrists. In Japan they are above all an everyday aid that people keep moistening to cool the skin at the pulse points.
Handheld fans or folding fans are, of course, also part of everyday life; they are often worn as accessories around the neck or on the wrist, not only in Japan but in China as well.
In recent years, various types of face masks have also become established in China as sun protection. The best known is the so-called "facekini", a hood made of elastic fabric that leaves only the eyes, nose and mouth exposed.
How that looks is shown in the main image above, featuring a tourist from China taking photos on the Römerberg square in Frankfurt am Main. Originally developed in coastal regions such as Qingdao, it was used mainly by bathers to protect their skin from intense UV radiation while swimming. The metropolis of millions lies directly on the Yellow Sea, roughly halfway between Shanghai and Beijing, and is also known for its "Tsingtao" beer, exported around the world.
"Facekinis" in China
Over time, the concept of face masks in China has evolved. Today lightweight, everyday UV-protection masks made from breathable performance fabrics such as "ice silk" are widespread. The modern versions are thin, elastic and often come with UV protection ratings (UPF 50+). They are also commonly worn in everyday life.
The masks are emblematic not only of a pragmatic adaptation to climatic conditions but also of cultural ideas about skincare and aesthetics.
Huge hats made from natural materials are often worn particularly by women, frequently combined with a light scarf underneath that can be moistened again and again and is thus intended to help prevent heatstroke.
Interestingly, in China people often prefer warm or lukewarm drinks in hot weather, which goes back to ideas from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that intense cold can throw the inner body out of balance. It is also assumed that very cold drinks strain the stomach and that the body then has to expend additional energy on temperature regulation, whereas warm drinks are considered gentler and can therefore support natural sweating for evaporative cooling.
Countries outside Europe tend to rely on three basic principles: 1. evaporative cooling through water and air movement, 2. shade and architecture, and 3. thermal mass provided by thick walls made of earth or stone.
Traditional Navajo and Pueblo techniques in the south-west of the USA use buildings made of clay and stone with small window openings as well as overhangs and verandas that provide shade.
While modern houses, for example in Germany, focus primarily on thermal insulation and energy efficiency, buildings in the Pueblo tradition use their high heat-storage capacity to keep indoor temperatures relatively stable; they stay comparatively cool in summer and warm for longer in winter.
Further south, people in Mexico like to wear very light, loose cotton clothing. Their houses are often built with thick adobe walls that buffer the indoor temperature. Many homes there have inner courtyards that serve as natural "cool islands" and noticeably lower the temperature. And of course the siesta, a midday rest during the hottest part of the day, is part of everyday life.
Wet cloths in windows in Egypt
Traditional wind towers (malqaf) in Egypt channel cooler outside air into houses, while inner courtyards with pools and plants also lower the microclimate through evaporative cooling. The principle: if a wet cloth is hung in or in front of a window, the water in the fabric evaporates. Evaporation requires energy, which is drawn from the surroundings in the form of heat. As a result, the air passing the damp cloth cools down.
In many regions of India, traditional cooling methods are used that are based on simple physical principles. A central element is the so-called "mitti" cooling, in which unglazed clay pots cool water naturally through evaporation. In addition, many people wear damp cotton cloths or very light cotton clothing to regulate body temperature more effectively. Evaporation is also used deliberately in living spaces, for example with damp jute mats or curtains that noticeably cool the ambient air.
Drinks made from yoghurt, buttermilk or tamarind are popular because they not only provide fluid but also replace electrolytes.
In general, in many traditionally hot countries people opt for light, water-rich food such as soups or melons.
Conclusion: the differences between European countries and those on other continents are less about "better" or "worse" methods and more about a combination of familiar climate, building styles, everyday practices and historical development.
Outside Europe, passive, architectural and culturally embedded cooling strategies often predominate, whereas in Europe technical and short-term solutions tend to take centre stage. Some Asian countries are also moving strongly towards small-scale, very everyday technological solutions designed to regulate heat not via buildings but via the human body itself.
