Karelian national costume

Karelian national costume

The Republic of Karelia is the land of amazing nature, beautiful picturesque places. It is in this picturesque corner of the world that people of many nationalities live: Russians, Karelians, Vepsians and others.

A bit of history

It has long been the custom that every good housewife should have certain skills in needlework: sewing, weaving, embroidery, knitting. Girls and women created luxurious sarafans and dresses, decorated with matchless embroidery with chain stitch. Finishing products necessarily had lace, satin ribbons and braid with a bright pattern.

The national Karelian national costume reflected the life and everyday life of ordinary residents, who were accustomed to work hard and do their favorite work.

A loose fit was the basis of all clothing. Sundresses, dresses were sewn from the following materials: flax, motley, wool, wrap. The fabric was often made by the locals themselves. Karelians sowed flax, hemp, kept sheep. In many homes there were homemade looms and spinning wheels. Skilled craftswomen spent a lot of time on such craft as weaving and spinning various threads. Clothing was made of calico, bucket, which were bought at fairs and artisans.

The national Karelian costume was everyday and festive clothing. What is included in a similar suit? The next chapter details the details and features of the costume. Today, the national costume is used exclusively for celebratory events related to the history and traditions of the Republic of Karelia.

Features

You can find out Karelian costume with some expressive details of the costume. The needlewomen always decorated the dress or sundress with stunning embroidery. These were embroidered motifs with a cross or chain stitch.

The embroidery was attended by animals and plants, an ornament resembling snowflakes and other geometric shapes. As a rule, needlewomen used the red thread to perform beautiful motifs. The red thread symbolized the festive decoration for all dresses. Casual dresses were decorated with embroidery with white or beige thread.

Today such decoration is used in the manufacture of table linen, home textiles and souvenirs, stage costumes.

The bright color of the dress, dress is another distinctive feature of the national costume of Karelia.

Considering the style of the dress, stylists also note the special decoration of the sleeves. Many variants of Karelian dress have sleeves, gathered in elastic and decorated with a lush flounce.

Colors and shades

Color was the determining factor in the national costume. Most of the Karelian holidays are held with driving round dances, singing songs. In winter, young men and women rode on sleds, jumping over the fire at Shrovetide. Therefore, the dress should have been a bright, noticeable outfit.

In addition to the red embroidery on the product, many hostesses preferred to sew red, blue dresses, but always in combination with a white background. Such a dress looked amazingly gentle, beautiful and luxurious.

Fabric and cut

In contact with the milestones of Karelian history and culture, it can be traced that the clothes of women and men have always been free, not constraining movements.

Dresses, sundresses, men's shirts were sewn with a straight cut. A lot of frills, frill complemented and decorated clothes.

The chastity of the Karelian peoples was confirmed by the length of women's clothing - it was sewed long, to the floor.

Varieties

National costume - clothes that were worn from young to old.What was included in men's, women's and children's clothing? The following review will introduce the national, Karelian clothing.

Male

Men, as true gentlemen, were gallant and attractive. Male costume consisted of a white shirt with embroidery, colored pants, ports, black waistcoat and hat.

The hat could be replaced by another headdress (cap). High black boots luxuriously complemented men's suit. A young man and a man tied a shirt with a belt. The shirt was sewn of 2 types: the length of the first reached the knees (it was made from homespun cloth) and short (from the red knee-length, with a narrow collar - stand). The scarf was an obligatory subject of the Karelian costume for men.

Female

In women, the suit was more diverse. The needlewomen made up their outfit from a sundress and a loose sweater, or a skirt and a canvas shirt. Light flared is present on each sundress.

Very often the hostess decorated such a dress with a beautiful apron. The apron was decorated with flounce, traditional embroidery and even fringe.

The woman’s hair was decorated with vintage headdresses. The girls tied their head with a bandage or a scarf. The bandage was often made of birch bark and had a beautiful weave. Married women chose warriors or kokoshniki as a headdress. The pearl painting of such headwear emphasized the well-being of the locals.

Child

To convey the love of their people, culture, traditions, children also sewed national costumes. They were not inferior to the attire of adults. The girls were dressed in long sundresses, the boys had loose shirts with a woven strap and loose pants.

Accessories

Accessories are present in the Karelian costume. In addition to beautiful sundresses, women adorned their shoulders with luxurious shawls of linen and calico. A scarf with a fringe was surely available to every hostess.

From the jewelry women chose pendants, medallions, brooches. Some local nationalities preferred to wear pearl beads, bracelets, chains, rings.

Footwear

Footwear is a special item of Karelian wardrobe. Winter in the Republic of Karelia is famous for its frosts. Without a warm and comfortable shoes is just not enough. Boots with fur had a sock bent to the top. Such shoes were considered the most beautiful and fashionable among many residents.

Valenoks - more practical and warm option for severe frosts. Karelia is the republic of beautiful forests, birch groves and other amazing places. To the sundress often wore and other shoes - sandals. Lapti made of birch bark and other wood.

Modern models

Today in Karelia there are many holidays, festivals, concerts related to the heritage and culture of the republic. The girls costume consists of a long sundress with embroidery and a frill along the edge of the product.

Girls must wear a beautiful apron over the top. Loose shirt without collar. Russian braid or loose hair adorned with a bandage.

The Republic of Karelia is the land of folk craftsmen and real needlewomen. Original embroidery is a distinctive feature that is present in every national costume and other things, interior items, souvenirs.

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