145196
Martine than you so much for posting this. I have just read through what everyone has written and your replies. This is one of the things I love about Cute the information from parts of the world that I know very little about. The costumes are beautiful and I can see why some families have a selection that are passed about to share. Long may the tradition carry on
114475Wow! Thank you for sharing these photos, Martine. Love the embroideries and costumes.
Hugs, Lidia
78093Morning Martine, these look absolutely wonderful. I wish our country had a national costume. Every year, at the pageants that Australia representatives are involved in, there seems to be a different costume. We, as you know, are a multi-cultural country and to have just one costume would be so hard to choose.
I love all the work displayed on these costumes. It's lovely for all the regional areas to have their own designs too. What pretty girls too and such lovely long hair.
I've never had long hair as it annoys the heck out of me! I was just brushing Ophelie's hair out of her face whilst eating breakfast and ended up spraying the top with some hairspray to stop if flopping on her face! Isn't that naughty of me?
Love and blessings Chris
by mops
18 May 2013
There is no such thing as a national dress in Europe, they are all regional or even town specific, with their own rules about colours - mourning for instance had strict rules on colours and on the time it had to be worn. My mum, who never wore it, was forced by her mother to follow the rules and wore black only for seven years after her dad died when she was 14. As fabrics were expensive cutting was avoided if possible - so skirts were shirred or folded to fit the waist. The shirts are rectangles as well, only the neckline is shaped by scissors. Most costumes go back to 16th or 17th centuries fashion. In the picture you can see some red tops, same shape as those in Austria, Bavaria and some Dutch towns. In the Netherlands there's only a few places you can see women wearing their genuine 'dracht' on a daily basis and most of them are in old peoples homes.
Of course there are the fake ones, like the Frau Antje to advertise cheese.
My granddaughters have long hair (all but one) and I share your feelings, brush and hairspray would be nice.
234256I lived in Norway for 3 yrs. My best friend still lives there... (over 40 yrs now).
May 17th is their Independence day when they became separated from Sweden. The national dresses are STUNNING, but very heavy. Which is fine because right now it is a bit nippy. ;) Those were all hand embroidered, but now days, I'm not so sure. They are still beautiful. Different designs represent different regions.
Thanks for sharing the picture.
by mops
edited 18 May 2013
It was indeed a bit cool this year, summer has arrived today. Both my grandmothers wore the regional dress of Scheveningen daily till their deaths in 1974, even when others complained about the heat. But I must say one of the two bought the most expensive
36693
11814they are all quite beautifully stitched. Do the girls make their own embroidered dresses, or do you think they are Store bought? Is the blue fabric a denham, or a woolen? I think this is a lovely tradition, to wear the colors/designs of their home region. Must havec been a spectacular sight!!
by mops
17 May 2013
The dresses are wool and often embroidered by mothers. You can buy them too, from relatively cheap supermarket items to handmade to order. My daughter's neighbour - who made and embroidered her daughter's outfit 3 years ago - told me the family has handmade 'bumad' for girls and boys in all children's sizes, that circulate among the family members. Must be a real treasure chest!
31625314300Sue, unfortunately I have only one, cut from a larger pic, but you can see how wide that decoration is and how the embroidery is cross stitch.
145196These look amazing! I'd like to see some of the Hardanger work.
140717Beautiful embroidery Mops and the small bags to match. Can inmagine your brain working lol and being so inspired. Look forward to see your next creations
57801Wonderful period costume. How inspiring!
by mops
17 May 2013
Thank you. They all wear the costume from either the place/region they were born or from the town/region they live in. And the type of embroidery is regional. There were a few women from the hardanger area - they had lovely white linen aprons with hardanger cutwork.
158557We never had good looking girls like that when I was at school. And sadly, I would have to say, most of our youngsters wouldn't know a national event in this country if it jumped up and bit them, let alone participate as these are proudly doing.
by mops
17 May 2013
Too bad about the girls at your school. Schools make attending oligatory, so do sport and social clubs that have their parades in the afternoon. And parents are applauding along the road morning and afternoon ...
No police to be seen, no fences put up, everything as orderly and friendly as could be. Wish we were that disciplined! Just one policeman rode a motor in front of the parade, stopped at the corner where we were standing. A small boy left his mum standing, ran to the policeman and was given a big hug. I love Norway!
by spendlove
17 May 2013
Not only the youngsters, Dennis. It is a sad fact, but most English people have no wish to celebrate heritage and tradition.
by dennis999
17 May 2013
You are, of course, quite right Sue. Mind you, when you have a Labour council of a small town in Somerset voting not to fly the English national flag out of respect for not wishing to upset certain minority groups, what hope is there!
by toet
17 May 2013
I went to Somerset a few years back to track down family tree. Big trip from Australia.
11929Beautiful! Thank you for sharing this picture and with it -- the inspiration to create something wonderful.
57620This is lovely. I can hardly wait to see what you create after this experience. So glad you are inspired!
173584Thanks for this. When enlarging the picture it is lovely to see the detail. The young girls look beautiful. Was the picture taken at a special occasion?
by mops
17 May 2013
May 17 is the national feast-day in Norway. This was one of the school classes that took part in the parade. Television is broadcasting all day the parade in the capital, Oslo. This was taken in Sandnes near Stavanger on the south western coast.
114475wow, this is beautiful !! thank you for sharing :) have a great time in Norway, hugs, Gerry
740417