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Folk costume facts for kids

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Faroese folk dance club from vagar
Faroese folk dance club with some members in national costumes

A folk costume (also regional costume, national costume, traditional garment, or traditional regalia) expresses an identity through costume, which is usually associated with a geographic area or a period of time in history. It can also indicate social, marital or religious status. If the costume is used to represent the culture or identity of a specific ethnic group, it is usually known as ethnic costume (also ethnic dress, ethnic wear, ethnic clothing, traditional ethnic wear or traditional ethnic garment). Such costumes often come in two forms: one for everyday occasions, the other for traditional festivals and formal wear. The word "costume" in this context is sometimes considered pejorative due to the multiple senses of the word, and in such cases "regalia" can be substituted without offense.

Following the rise of romantic nationalism, the pre-industrial peasantry of Europe came to serve as models for all that appeared genuine and desirable. Their garments are crystallized into so-called "typical" forms, and enthusiasts adopted that attire as part of their symbolism. These garments may be made from traditional pre-industrial textiles, in regional styles.

In areas where Western dress codes have become usual, traditional garments are often worn at special events or celebrations; particularly those connected with cultural traditions, heritage or pride. International events may cater for non-Western attendees with a compound dress code such as "business suit or national dress".

In modern times, there are instances where traditional garments are required by sumptuary laws. In Bhutan, the traditional Tibetan-style clothing of gho and kera for men, and kira and toego for women, must be worn by all citizens, including those not of Tibetan heritage. In Saudi Arabia, women are also required to wear the abaya in public.

Africa

Nigerian women
A group of Nigerian women wearing pagne.

Central Africa

Togho 03
Toghu or Tugh is the official traditional regalia of Cameroon worn by men, women and children.

Eastern Africa

Baganda people in their cultural outfits. men put on Kanzu, and ladies Ggomeesi
Baganda people in their cultural outfits. Men put on Kanzu, and ladies Ggomeesi.
  • Burundi – Imvutano
  • Comoros – Lesso (female), Kanzu (male)
  • Djibouti – Macawiis (male), Koofiyad (male), Dirac (female), Garbasaar (female); the Afar people have their style of traditional clothing.
  • Eritrea – Kidan Habesha (male), Zuria or Habesha kemis (female)
  • Ethiopia – Ethiopian suit or Kidan Habesha (male), Habesha kemis (female); each ethnic group has a traditional style of dress.
  • Kenya – Does not have a national costume. All tribes have their respective traditional garments, for example: Maasai traditional costume: Kitenge, Kikoi, Maasai beadwork
  • Madagascar – Lamba
  • Mauritius and Réunion – Sega dress
  • Rwanda – Mushanana
  • Seychelles – Kanmtole dress
  • Somalia – Kanzu or Khamiis, Macawiis (male), Kitenge Koofiyad (male), Dirac (female), Guntiino (female), Garbasaar (female)
  • Sudan – Jalabiyyah, Taqiyyah, and Turban (male), Toob, a cotton women's dress (female)
  • Tanzania – Kanzu and Kofia (male), Kanga (female)
  • Uganda – Kanzu and Kofia (male), Gomesi (female), Mushanana (Female - South Western Uganda)

Northern Africa

Traditional gandoura
Traditional gandoura, Algeria
  • Algeria - Burnous, Caftan, Caftan El-Bey, Gandoura, Haïek, Jellaba, Mlaya, Sarouel
    • Bikhmar (Ouargla)
    • Blouza (Oran)
    • Chedda (Tlemcen)
    • Chemsa (Jijel)
    • Fergani (Constantine)
    • Gandoura Annabiya (Annaba)
    • Ghlila, Karakou, Sarouel Mdawer (Algiers)
    • Labsa M'zabia (M'zab)
    • Labsa Naïlia (Ouled Naïl)
    • Lefa we dlala (Annaba)
    • Melhfa Chaouïa (Aures)
    • Melhfa Sahraouia (Tindouf)
    • Qashabiya (Djelfa et Laghouat), Labsa Kbaylia (Kabylie)
    • Binouar - Sétif
    • Labsa Touratia (Hoggar)
  • Egypt – Galabeya
  • Libya – Jellabiya, Farmla (an embroidered vest), Fouta
  • Morocco – Djellaba, Fez hat and Balgha (male), Takchita (female)
  • Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic – Darra'a (male), Melhfa Sahraouia (female)
  • Tunisia – Jebba, Chechia, Fouta

Southern Africa

ZULU TRADITIONAL ATTIRE
Zulu traditional attire

Western Africa

Kwarastatedrummers
Yoruba men in folk costume
  • Benin – Dashiki suit and Aso Oke Hat (male), Buba and wrapper set (female)
  • Burkina Faso – Batakari (male), Kaftan (female)
  • Cape Verde – Pano de terra
  • Côte d'Ivoire – Kente cloth (male), Kente kaba and slit set (female)
  • Gambia – Boubou (male), Kaftan (female)
  • Ghana – Kente cloth or Ghanaian smock and Kufi (male), Kente kaba and slit set (female), Agbada (male)
  • Guinea – Boubou (male), Kaftan (female)
  • Guinea-Bissau – Ethnic clothes of Guinea-Bissau; for example: Fula: Boubou (male), Kaftan (female)
  • Liberia – Dashiki suit and Kufi (male), Buba and skirt set (female)
  • Mali – Grand boubou and Kufi (male), Kaftan (female)
  • Mauritania – Darra'a (male), Melhfa Sahraouia (female)
  • Niger – Babban riga, Tagelmust, Alasho (male), Kaftan (female)
  • Nigeria – Agbada, Dashiki or Isiagu and Aso Oke Hat (male), Buba and wrapper set (female)
  • Senegal – Senegalese kaftan and Kufi (male), Kaftan (female)
  • Togo - Batakari, Agbada or Ewe kente cloth (male), Pagne or kente kaba (female)

Asia

Central Asia

Turkic Countries:

East Asia

National costumes of China
Each ethnic group of China has its own traditional costume.
National costume Mongolia 1
Mongolia
Tuvans Horse riding
Tuvan horse-riders wearing deel.

North Asia

  • Russia (Urals, Siberian Federal District and Far Eastern Siberia) – Clothing of Siberian nationalities (Buryat, Yakut, Altai, etc.)

South Asia

Cultural costume
Indian cultural dresses

Southeast Asia

Centre national de la soie (Artisans dAngkor). (2517376127)
Cambodian Sompot Chong Kben
  • Brunei – Baju Melayu, Songkok (male), Baju Kurung, Tudung (female)
  • Cambodia – Sampot, Apsara, Sabai, Krama, Chang kben
  • East Timor – Tais cloth clothing
  • Indonesia – (See: National costume of Indonesia). There are hundreds of types of folk costumes in Indonesia because of the diversity in the island nation. Each ethnic group of Indonesia have their own traditional costume;
    • Batak tribe: Ulos
    • Javanese people: Beskap, Batik shirt, Blangkon, Songkok, Sarong (male), Kebaya, Tudung, Sarong (female).
    • Malay people: Baju Melayu, Baju Kurung, Songket
    • Papua: Koteka
    • etc.
Aesan Gede Songket Palembang
Indonesian girl wearing traditional Palembangese Songket
  • Laos – xout lao, suea pat, pha hang, pha biang, sinh
  • Malaysia – Baju Melayu and Songkok (male), Baju Kurung, Baju Kebarung (Kebaya/Kurung hybrid), Tudung (female); every state has its style of baju including a special baju for the Federal Territories.
  • Myanmar – Longyi, Gaung baung
  • Philippines – Barong (male) and Baro't saya; Maria Clara gown, Terno (female), Malong, Patadyong, Tapis, Salakot
  • Singapore:
    • Chinese Singaporeans - Hanfu, Cheongsam (female), Tangzhuang (male)，Changpao (male)
    • Indian Singaporeans - Sari (Female), Dhoti (Male), Kurta
    • Malay Singaporeans - Baju Melayu (Male), Baju Kurung (female), Sarong
    • Peranakans - Kebaya (female), Baju Lokchuan (male)
  • Thailand – Chut thai: Thai female: Thai Chakkri, Thai male: Suea Phraratchathan, Both genders: Chong kraben and Sabai
  • Vietnam – Việt phục: Áo giao lĩnh, Áo dài, Áo tứ thân, Áo bà ba
Armenian traditional clothing
Armenians in arkhalig.
Young women of Bethlehem in costume, Holy Land-LCCN2002725085
Palestinian costume from Bethlehem.

West Asia

  • Armenia - Armenian dress, Arkhalig, Arakhchin, Burka, Chokha, Kalpak, Papakha, Shalvar
  • Azerbaijan – Azerbaijani traditional clothing: Arkhalig, Chokha, Kelaghayi, Kalpak
  • Cyprus - Zimbouni (waistcoat) and Vraka (breeches) (men) and Saiya (formal festival dress) (women)
  • Israel – Sudra, Tanakhi sandals, Tembel hat, Yemenite Jewish clothes; Jewish religious clothing: Rekel, Bekishe, Tzitzit, Kippah, Tichel.
  • Iran – Chador, Turban, Thawb (Dishdasha/Kameez), Kurdish clothing, Zardozi, Battoulah
  • Iraq – Assyrian clothing, Keffiyeh, Hashimi Dress, Bisht, Dishdasha, Kurdish clothing, Agal, Bisht
  • Jordan – Keffiyeh, Bisht, Bedouin clothing
  • Lebanon – Tantour, Labbade, Sherwal, Keffiyeh, Taqiyah
  • Kuwait – Dishdasha, Keffiyeh
  • Oman – Dishdasha, Khanjar, Keffiyeh
  • Palestine – Most regions in Palestine have their specific design of a traditional costume, the thobe, not to be confused with the Arabian Peninsula men's garment of the same name, with those of Bethlehem and Ramallah being the most popular varieties. The Palestinian style of keffiyeh is regarded as a popular headdress and symbol of Palestinian identity.
  • Qatar – Thawb, Keffiyeh
  • Saudi Arabia – Thawb, Ghutrah, Agal, Bisht, Abaya, Jilbab, Niqab
  • Syria – Dishdasha, Sirwal, Taqiyah, Keffiyeh
  • Turkey - Kalpak, Yazma, Kaftan, Turban, Salvar, Çarık,Cepken-Yelek, Boynuz Kemer -Horn belt
  • United Arab Emirates – Kandura, Abaya; older women would still wear the battoulah visor
  • Yemen – Thawb, Izaar, Turban, Jambiya, Niqab

Europe

Costumes civils TRADITIONAL CLOTHING OF EUROPE AND SOVIET RUSSIA Historical folk costumes dress outfits etc Public domain illustration French encyclopedia Larousse du XXème siècle 1932
European and Central Asian folk costumes, from a 1932 encyclopedia
Народы Кавказа 19 век
Northern Caucasus folk costumes. The text at the bottom of the picture reads (from left to right): Ossetians, Circassians, Kabardians, and Chechen.
Costumes of Peasants from Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Germany
Costumes of inhabitants of the Kingdom of Hungary in 1855: Romanian, ethnic Hungarian (Magyar), Slovak and German peasants
Kuopiolainen
A 1831 picture of the folk costume of the Kuopio people in Finland
20.12.15 Mobberley Morris Dancing 191 (23578873210)
Morris dancing in English folk costumes
Hontianska parada 2003-DSC01192
Traditional kroj from Slovakia
Jerez spanien folklore
Andalusian folk costumes from Spain
Tricana norte grupo
Tricana from Portugal


Eastern Europe

  • Belarus – Slutsk stash, the national type of wimple (namitka)
  • Georgia – Chokha (Every region has its own specific design of Chokha), Papakha
  • Ossetia – Chokha
  • Russia – Bast shoes, Boyar hat, Ryasna, Sarafan, Kaftan, Kokoshnik, Kosovorotka, Ushanka, Valenki; (Sami) Gákti, Luhkka for colder weather
  • Ukraine – National costumes of Ukraine: Vyshyvanka, Sharovary, Żupan, Ukrainian wreath

Central Europe

  • Austria - Each state has a specific design on national costume; the most famous is that of Tyrol, consisting of the characteristic Tyrolean tracht and dirndls.
  • Czech Republic – Kroje
  • Hungary – National costumes of Hungary
  • Poland – Czamara, Żupan, Kontusz, Rogatywka (National costumes of Poland)
  • Slovakia – Kroj (embroidered traditional dress)

Northern Europe

  • Denmark – Folkedragt
  • Estonia – Rahvariided [et]
  • Finland – Every region has its own specific design of national costume (kansallispuku, nationaldräkt). These vary widely. Many of them resemble Swedish costumes, but some take influences from Russian costumes as well. For the Sami in Finland, each place has its own Gákti or Luhkka for colder weather.
  • Iceland – Þjóðbúningurinn
  • Ireland – Aran sweater, Irish walking hat, flat cap, Grandfather shirt, Galway shawl, brogue, Irish stepdance costume
  • Latvia - Tautastērps
  • Lithuania - Tautinis kostiumas
  • Norway – Every county (including Svalbard, which isn't a county) has a designated style of folk costume, or Bunad; the most famous bunader come from Hardanger and Setesdal; Sami: Gákti, and for colder weather, Luhkka
  • Sweden – the traditional folkdräkt has been specific to the local region and varied from province to province but has since 1983 been supplemented by an official National Costume, Sverigedräkten, common for all; 18th century: Nationella dräkten; Sami: Gákti, Luhkka for colder weather
  • United Kingdom: Every constituent country has its own national costume.

Southern Europe

  • Albania – Albanian Traditional Clothing, Fustanella, Tirq, Xhamadan, Opinga
  • Andorra – Barretina, espadrilles
  • Bulgaria – Every town has its own design of a national costume (nosia), with different types of clothing items traditional for each of the ethnographic regions of the country.
  • Croatia – Croatian national costume, Lika cap, Šibenik cap
  • Greece – Fustanella, Breeches(Vraka), Amalia costume.
    • Greek fisherman's caps in many coastal villages by the Aegean sea.
  • Italy – Italian folk dance costumes; Roman clothing: Toga, Stola
  • Kosovo – Traditional clothing of Kosovo, Qeleshe, Tirq, Xhubleta, Xhamadan, Opinga
  • Malta – Għonnella
  • Montenegro – Montenegrin cap
  • North Macedonia – Macedonian national costume
  • Portugal – Every region has its own specific design of a national costume. The most famous costumes come from Viana do Castelo and Nazaré.
  • Romania – Romanian dress
  • Serbia – Every region has different design of a national costume. Serbian traditional clothing, Lika cap, Montenegrin cap, Opanci, Šajkača, Šubara
  • Slovenia – Gorenjska narodna noša
  • Spain – Every autonomous region has its own national costume.

Western Europe

  • Belgium – Bleu sårot (Wallonia)
  • France – Every administrative region has a style of folk costume, varying by department. For example, Brittany, with Breton costume varying by department and predominantly used in Cercles celtiques, pardons and festivals.
  • Germany – Every state has its own specific design of a national costume (Tracht). For example, Bavaria's well-known tracht: Lederhosen and Dirndl.
  • Liechtenstein – Tracht, Dirndl
  • Netherlands – Many areas, villages and towns used to have their own traditional style of clothing. In the 21st century, only a few hundred people still wear the traditional dresses and suits on a daily basis. They can be found mainly in Staphorst (about 700 women), Volendam (about 50 men) and Marken (about 40 women). Most well-known parts of Dutch folk costumes outside the Netherlands are probably the Dutch woman's bonnet and klompen.
  • Switzerland - Every canton has a specific design of national dress. The most famous Swiss costumes come mainly from the German-speaking cantons of Appenzell, Bern and Zug.

North America

Capote for scout on raiding party, Siksika, early 1900s, wool from Hudson's Bay Company blanket, glass beads - Glenbow Museum - DSC01002
A Siksika Blackfoot capote; the capote is seen as the traditional coat of the Métis, some Prairie First Nations and French-Canadian Voyageurs.
CharroOutfitsNoreste18
China Poblana dress, emblematic of the City of Puebla and sometimes considered the national costume of Mexico.
Four students with guitar
Blue jeans, Stetsons and press stud plaid Western shirts, c.1950

Caribbean

  • Antigua and Barbuda – plaid dress, with white pinafore for women, designed by Heather Doram
  • Bahamas - None, unofficially Androsia-cloth clothing. Junkanoo costumes can be considered folk costume but fall more into the sector of carnival dress than traditional garment.
  • Cuba – Guayabera, panama hat (male), guarachera (female)
  • Dominican Republic – Chacabana, panama hat
  • Dominica – Madras
  • Haiti – Karabela dress (female), Shirt jacket (male)
  • Jamaica – Bandanna cloth Quadrille dress (female), Bandanna cloth shirt and white trousers (male), Jamaican Tam
  • Puerto Rico – Guayabera, panama hat (male), enaguas (female)
  • St. Lucia – Madras
  • Trinidad and Tobago – Tobago has an Afro-Tobagonian Creole culture with the Bélé costumes as their typical garment, commonly made of madras. Trinidad, however, has no defined national garment; the two major ethnic groups in the island wear the following during cultural occasions:
Mujeres de Nebaj, Guatemala 2013
Mayan folk clothing from Nebaj.

Central America

  • Belize – Mestizos - Huipil (female), Guayabera (male); Mayas - All tribes wear distinct kinds of Mayan dress.
  • Guatemala – Huipil, Corte skirt, Tocado (female), Todosantero suit (male)
  • Nicaragua – Huipil, Rebozo (female), Cotona (male)
  • Panama – Pollera (female), Montuno (male)

Northern America

Oceania

00 2449 Maori, indigenous people of New Zealand
Maori man wearing the korowai.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Australia
  • New Zealand
    • Māori – Piupiu, korowai or kakahu huruhuru.
    • New Zealand Europeans - Swanndri bush jacket, slouch hat, walk shorts, and knee-high socks; or a black singlet and rugby shorts.

Melanesia

Micronesia

High school students wearing puletasi
Samoan women wearing the puletasi.

Polynesia

South America

Andean Man
Peru
Gauchito salteño argentino
Gaucho wearing the poncho salteño.
Acaraje1
Baiana clothing from Bahia.
  • Argentina – Gaucho costume; every province has a specific design of poncho, with the poncho salteño being the most recognized.
  • Bolivia – Poncho, Chullo, Andean pollera
  • Brazil – Each region has its own traditional costume.
    • Bahia – Baiana and Abadá
    • Brazilian carnival or Samba costumes for Rio de Janeiro.
    • Caipiras (Brazilian country folk) in Sao Paulo, Goiás and other nearby states conserve traditional folk styles of clothing, imitated by participants of festa juninas.
    • Gaúcho costumes for Rio Grande Do Sul.
    • Indigenous clothes for many states within the Amazônia Legal area
    • Northeastern sertão (desert) – Vaqueiro or Cangaceiro clothing
  • Chile – Huaso costume: Chamanto, Chupalla
  • Colombia – Sombrero Vueltiao, ruana, white shirt, trousers and alpargatas (male), blouse, Cumbia pollera, Sombrero vueltiao and alpargatas (female); every region has a distinct costume.
  • Ecuador – Poncho, Panama hat
  • Guyana - Guyana is unique among South American nations to not have a designated style of national dress. Every ethnic group wears their cultural clothing during important events or occasions:
    • Afro-Guyanese - Dashiki or Shirt jacket (male), Booboo (female)
    • Indo-Guyanese - Kurta, Sherwani, Churidar (male), Sari, Lehenga (female)
    • Every indigenous tribe wears their tribal clothes during culture events or important occasions.
  • Paraguay – Ao po'i
  • Peru – Chullo, Poncho, Andean pollera
  • Suriname – Kotomisse, Pangi cloth
  • Uruguay – Gaucho costume
  • Venezuela – Llanero costume (Liqui liqui and pelo e' guama hat; men), Joropo dress and pelo e' guama hat (women)

See also

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