ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Clerical clothing

Clerical clothing is a special type of outfit that some religious people wear when they are doing their important jobs at church.

For men, this outfit usually includes a long black robe called a cassock that goes all the way down to the ankles. They also wear a special type of white collar that goes around their necks and sits on top of their cassocks. This collar is called a clerical collar or a Roman collar.

For women, the outfit is usually a skirt or dress that goes down to the ankles and a white collar that is similar to the one men wear.

These outfits are worn to show that the person wearing them is someone special and has an important job to do. It's kind of like wearing a uniform to work, except in this case, the uniform is meant to show that the person is a leader in their religious community.

People who wear clerical clothing might be priests, ministers, pastors, or other religious leaders. They wear this clothing when they are leading church services, performing important ceremonies like weddings or funerals, or even just when they are visiting people who need their help.

So, that's basically what clerical clothing is - a special outfit that some religious leaders wear to show that they are important and have an important job.
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