Red scarf

USSR postage stamp, 1972

The red scarf is a neckerchief worn by young pioneers of several countries during the socialist (“communist”) era. In the Soviet Union it was known as pionerskiy galstuk (пионерский галстук, i. e. pioneer's neckerchief), in Vietnam as khăn quàng đỏ (red scarf), in China as hóng lǐngjīn (紅領巾/红领巾, red scarf), in Cuba as pañoleta roja (red scarf), and in Hungary as úttörőnyakkendő (pioneer's neckerchief). Blue scarves were also used by youngsters before coming of age to wear the red one, and are still seen in some countries.