I wouldn't say "important" necesarily - certainly not at the Taliban or Sikh level of requiring them. I think beards are simply a normal part of life, lack of a beard marking you more as young than immasculated. Sure, the guys may make jokes about beardless men, but I don't think that if a man lost his beard he would be terribly distraught over it. "Baby-faced" would be an appelation for a beardless man, more so than "eunuch". I don't think the Heortlings equate "beard=balls".
RR
Powered by hypermail