Russian costume as the embodiment of the identity of the people

2024 Author: Sierra Becker | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-26 03:46

Matryoshka, a long bright sundress of a peasant woman, a kokoshnik - all these are well-known and characteristic symbols of our people and their traditions. For many centuries, the national Russian costume has been distinguished by an amazing variety, which was expressed in bright decorativeness, multi-component sets, and a plurality of forms and types. Folk clothing has come a long way in its development, which is closely connected with history.

Keeping Traditions

Traditional clothing is an important ethnic indicator and an element synthesizing various types of applied decorative art. Somewhat modified, the characteristic elements of ornamentation, cut, use of ornaments and materials have been preserved in the Russian costume. The history of the Russian costume captured the formation of the culture of the people. And its true custodian has always been the peasantry. The first mentions date back to the era of ancient Kievan Rus. In those days, people dressed simply, tailoring the suits of kings and peasants.was the same, only the degree of decoration could show belonging to a certain class.

Approximately in the XII-XIII centuries there was a characteristic division of the forms of Russian costume into northern and southern. This was due to the degree of development of applied art. In the southern territories devastated by the constant raids of nomads, art crafts did not develop enough. In the north, the general standard of living of the people was higher due to trade and the flourishing of culture.

Starting from the 18th-19th centuries, peasant clothing has been somewhat modified under the influence of fashion and the development of industrial production. Since that time, the Russian costume has been made from factory fabrics, the decoration of headwear and shoes has changed, and then the forms of clothing themselves also change.

Currently, the Russian costume is a traditional outfit for performances of folk groups, whether singing songs or dance performances.

Characteristic features of women's folk costume

The Russian costume of a southern peasant woman consisted of a shirt and a poneva skirt. The shirt was sewn to the length of the skirt. Northern women wore a sundress. Very often, cheap and unbleached canvas fabric was used to sew the part of the shirt hiding under it. Sundresses were cut from wedges, expanding to the bottom. Clothing was traditionally richly decorated with patterned weaving or hand embroidery. The predominant colors have always been red and white. An obligatory accessory of the costume was a belt, which was also considered a talisman. Ornamental stripes, colored lace, ribbons, braidwere necessarily located along the edges of the sleeves, hem, on the shoulder and along the incision on the chest. Each province had its own special Russian costume, which differed in the features of decoration, colors, and headdresses. Also, clothes were different depending on the status, age, class.

Russian folk costumes are the hallmark of our country. Photos will show not only the beauty, we alth, originality of national decoration, but also help to feel the inner spirit of the people, its uniqueness.