The Stolen "Traditions" of the Early Ku Klux Klan

The Ku Klux Klan began in 1866 in Pulaski, Tennessee. The first members were young fiddle players starting a social club, eager to harness the trappings of ancient secret societies to draw intrigue and respect. They were also quite frustrated over the Confederacy's loss in the recent war. They were publicized as a minstrel group or a drinking club, but it wasn't long before politics and "vigilantism" made the klan what it came to be.  

The costumes members wore changed considerably over time, but eventually settled on the long robes and conical head coverings that resembled the Spanish capirote or the capuchon that mocked them. Their terrifying midnight raids were modeled after the European custom of harassment called charivari. Charivari was used in Europe to shame a member of the community. Read about more of the traditions that were made up for the Klan at Lapham's Quarterly.