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Why do the Nights Watch wear black?


King of Winters

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Not many houses colours are black? Lot's of blue, gold, grey, white and red but less black..... Separated the past of sorts?

Probably because the Night's Watch (supposedly) pre-dates most noble houses - though I'm not convinced about the supposed 8,000 years, there are clear signs that history-keeping in Westeros isn't as exact as all that, hell, even in our modern world we have shaky notions at best of what went on 8,000 years ago.

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I've always just assumed that by taking the black it was just another way of losing their past identities and becoming a brother of the nights watch. Like the vows say they will win no glory, hold no lands and the vow of celibacy, I just thought the black was to show they were humble and not flashy, in comparison to the knights and lords with flashy armour etc.

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It's easier to dye any piece of old clothing black.

Where as white cloth (I assume his suggested alternative) needs to be bleached and made from lighter cloth, which is expensive and virtually impossible to keep clean for a whole army.

Then it's not that much more effective as camouflage. People forget that even in snow there's trees, rocks and other dark objects. Blacks going to work just as well if you know how to stalk. Black is also going to be better for being hidden at night.

It's also a uniform. In the heat of a melee, the black is going to tell you who is friend and who is foe.

It's also badass branding, as Jon points out, at Rattleshirt burning, with the hoods drawn up it's hard to tell which Watch member is a boy, old man or veteran ranger.

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Because "taking the white" sounds like the end of a porno movie.

So does "taking the black".

"Taking the black" is what comes before "taking the white".

:lmao:

I figured 'the Black' was something post-degraded watch, where they won't even spend the money or time to keep their robes clean.

So they all just 'went black'.

Cause when you go black, you can never go back :hat:

...Couldn't help myself.

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The lands beyond the Wall are not just snow as far as the eye can see. There are massive forests, mountain ranges and cave systems, wearing black is the best option for moving stealthy in that sort of environment. Obviously they would stand out like a sore thumb if they were crossing a large open plain of just snow, but a skilled ranger would be avoiding that sort of thing no matter what colour they are wearing.

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yeah, i think you're right. taking the black is a kind of symbolic death (no family, no titles, no lands), so it's like once they join they're wearing a kind of shroud/burial garment/ or clothing that symbolizes death.

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The lands beyond the Wall are not just snow as far as the eye can see. There are massive forests, mountain ranges and cave systems, wearing black is the best option for moving stealthy in that sort of environment. Obviously they would stand out like a sore thumb if they were crossing a large open plain of just snow, but a skilled ranger would be avoiding that sort of thing no matter what colour they are wearing.

I think that GRRM pretty much says that it's similar to Canada, black works pretty good.

Mostly though it's because it's nondescript and they're not supposed to care about pretty green full plate armor ala Renly. Black works as well as anything else. It sounds way cooler to me, the reader, to have them take the Black than to take the blue or the yellow or the fucia.

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Not many houses colours are black? Lot's of blue, gold, grey, white and red but less black..... Separated the past of sorts?

This is strong point seeing how in real life the black flag symbolizes anarchy because how its solid uniform black is in stark contrast to the colorful flags typical of most national flags, so too might the Night Watch's uniform black be meant to symbolize the stark contrast to the colorful heredity of the different houses. Therefore, symbolizing a brother's rejection of their old houses for that of the Night Watch.

Also the Night is also typically dark and black is a dark color.

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Because the Night's Watch is actually from New Zealand. Beware their rugby team. ;)

Black dye was hideously expensive in our own Middle Ages (you essentially re-dye until it looks black). I think Martin was going for (1) distinctiveness, and (2) it looks non-pretentious. With such a uniform, it'd make spotting deserters comparatively easy.

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The lands beyond the Wall are not just snow as far as the eye can see. There are massive forests, mountain ranges and cave systems, wearing black is the best option for moving stealthy in that sort of environment. Obviously they would stand out like a sore thumb if they were crossing a large open plain of just snow, but a skilled ranger would be avoiding that sort of thing no matter what colour they are wearing.

But what about when on The Wall or near The Wall and up against it where they're easy targets for the Wildlings.

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Um...because black doesn't show the dirt as much as pink?

Because Beige Brothers just doesn't have the same ring to it.

Because Black is Badass, and purple is not.

Everything goes with black - including all materials, skin colors, ravens and white direwolves.

Black is slimming for plump Southern-born men.

It's the Night's Watch, not the Dawn's Watch or Mid-day's Watch or Twilight Watch; so Black is appropriate.

Black-garbed Men look cool on the white Wall.

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The Nights watch was formed to fight the Others and Guard the realm, maybe as guards the black makes them visible and show a strong presence. Visibly guarding the realm. It doesn't make sense that when they go ranging they don't camouflage up its such a disadvantage the Wildlings know the area better and can spot them miles off.

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It might be for practical reasons. Black absorbs more heat I think so it might be more practical at keeping warm in the cold climate.

Although I am not entirely sure that it's scientifically proven that wearing black clothes can keep you warmer.

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