Today the wearing of the Hungarian national costume isn’t as common as it use to be. Generally the wearing of this costume tends to only happen at special events such as a wedding or during national holidays or festivals.

The actual outfits you seen being worn today although may look similar they do differ slightly dependent on the region of Hungary they are from. In some parts of Hungary the men will wear tight felt wool pants whilst in other parts of the country they will wear very baggy pants made from linen.

Yet in some parts of Hungary the national costumes worn by the men in some ways look similarly to those worn by the women. They consist of short skirt under which several underskirts are then worn. Then in other parts of the country the men will wear skirts that are floor length and the hem has been turned up to allow the decoration on the underside to be revealed.

However one thing you will notice about the various different national costumes worn in Hungary is that they are all very colorful and very richly embroidered. Many of them also feature lace in their designs as well.

When it comes to the embroidery on these outfits the use of bold colors is commonplace. Also the use of floral patterns and rich textures in the designs is important. Most of the designs that you see today on these outfits are ones that have been passed down from one generation of a family to a next and help them to identify the region from which they come from.

Although the men’s outfit is quite simple in that it consists of them wearing pants, shirt, boots, vests or long coats there is still the opportunity to make it look more elaborate. Most of the mens vests or long coats will be very heavily embroidered. Also the boots that they wear can either be decorated with embroidery all over them or may come with just a little decoration around the cuff of the boot.

Of course the outfits worn by the women tend to be a lot more decorative than those worn by the men. Along with them wearing a white blouse and patterned skirt the women also wear a vest. Both the vest and skirt will be heavily embroidered. As for the blouse worn underneath this tends to have a small amount of lace included around the collar and the sleeves.

On the heads the men will wear a very simple felt hat whilst the women again will wear something a little more elaborate. Most women tend to actually wear a very simple wreath made from flowers that is then adorned with ribbons. The colors again included in this particular item of the Hungarian National Costume are ones that match or complement the colors of the rest of the outfit.

Unlike the men the women do not wear elaborately decorated footwear but instead wear very simple black shoes. The main aim is to actually keep other people’s attention on the rest of the outfit.

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The first thing that you may notice about the Paraguay national costume is that it is very much based on the national costumes worn in other South American countries. The main reason for this being is that throughout its history Paraguay has been ruled by a variety of different cultures that also chose to make other countries in South America their homes.

The kinds of national costumes that tend to be worn by the people of Paraguay on special occasions such as national holidays or religious festivals include the following.

Poncho

This is an outer garment made from wool and looks similar to a blanket. As well as designed to help keep the body warm this particular item is also coated to ensure that it is waterproof. It is one of the most easily recognizable items to be worn today as part of this country’s national costume.

Guayabera Shirt

This shirt is often worn with the poncho and is unlike any other shirts worn. On the front will be sewn two or four patch pockets. Whilst running along the back and front of the shirt can be seen 2 vertical rows of 10 tiny fine pleats sewn together closely. The same pleats (Alforzas) are also sewn into the pockets of the shirt and are aligned with those on the shirt itself.

Pollera

This particular item of clothing is actually worn by the women of Paraguay. It is a skirt made from one piece of material and as these take up a year to make can cost a great deal of money to purchase. The more simple designs can cost a few hundred dollars, whilst the more ornate skirts, which take up a year to make, can cost several thousand.

Worn with this skirt are gold and pearl mosquetas or tembleques. However rather than a new one being created to go with the Pollera, the ones worn by women today tend to be passed down from one generation to the next.

Typoi

This is yet another typical form of dress worn by women and is also considered to be the national costume of Paraguay. The outfit actually comprises a skirt known as a nanduti and a blouse known as Ao Poi. The ends of the sleeves of the top resemble the hem of the skirt. These outfits come in a variety of vibrant colors.

Unlike some of the other outfits available today this particular Paraguay national costume is one that women prefer to still make themselves. In fact the techniques involved to make this very beautiful outfit are still passed down from one generation to the next. The actual sewing of the material together is very simple. However the material itself requires the women to know how to use a special frame on which the cotton yarn can be weaved to create a circular shape. In some respects as you look closely at the design of this outfit you can clearly see the Spanish influence as it looks in some ways a little similar to the dresses worn by Flamenco dancers.

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You may not realize it but the Dominican Republic national costume worn for special events helps to tie these people closely to the history of their country. In many cases the outfits worn by them today reflect how this country came to be over the last few centuries.

However there is one particular outfit that seems very popular today and which is most often worn by the men of the Dominican Republican. This particular item is known as the Guayabera.

It is in fact a shirt that isn’t only popular and considered to be part of the national costume for the Dominican Republic, but is also worn in countries such as the Philippines, Mexico, Central America, South East Asia and Zimbabwe.

The shirt is very distinctive and is unlike any other shirt worn by the men of the Dominican Republic. On the front will either be two or four patch pockets whilst running along the front and back of it are two vertical rows of very fine pleats known as Alforzas. Most of these shirts when worn for special occasions will have 10 pleats sewn very closely together.

At the top of each of the pockets on the shirt will be a matching button and along the bottom hem of this shirt are a row of buttons. These allow the wearer to then adjust the fit of the shirt to suit their body shape. Although most of the shirts worn tend not to have any kind of covering over the buttons some do.

At the bottom of most Guayabera shirts worn for special occasions and which are considered to be the Dominican Republic national costume have three-inch slits on either side at the bottom. This is again to help ensure that the shirt can be adjusted to fit the wearer better. The actual hem at the bottom is straight and at all times it should be worn over the top of trousers.

Originally the color of the shirt was either white or pastel. However today it has become much more common for the Guayabera to come in much bolder and brighter colors. Also in the Dominican Republic the wearing of black guayaberas is commonplace, but still they like the shirts to stand out by having them decorated with colorful flowers that will have been sewn on to them by hand. Also they like the cuffs to look very outrageous so they go for the French style of cuffs, which are very flouncy.

Although this shirt is more commonly referred to as the Guayabera in some parts of the Dominican Republic it is also known as the Chacabana. Yet although the name of this item of clothing worn as the Dominican Republic national costume may be different, it looks no different in style to that worn in the other countries we have mentioned above.

But even though it is generally men that tend to wear this particular item of clothing as part of their Dominican Republic national costume it is now becoming a favorite with many women as well. The reason for this is that the design enables them to tailor it to their body shape perfectly.

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As you will discover when it comes to the Bulgarian national costume it differs somewhat from one area of the country to another. Yet although the costumes may differ these outfits have been worn for many centuries now.

Although the Bulgarian national costume may only be worn at very special events it still plays a very important role in the country’s history. Of course the costumes worn today are made using machinery, but originally they would have been created by hand. Just like now the outfits worn hundreds of years ago would have been made from wool, but they would also have been made from hemp.

However although most of the national costumes worn today in Bulgaria are mass-produced, there are still those who prefer to make theirs by hand. This then allows the person creating the outfit to add as much decoration and embroider to it, as they want.

As already mentioned above the wearing of different styles of national costume in Bulgaria is not uncommon. Certainly the outfits worn by the women do vary quite a bit from one part of the country to another and below we take a look at what is often worn by them depending on the region where they come from.

In the northern part of Bulgaria the women who choose to dress up in national costume for special occasions will wear an outfit that is made up of two aprons, a chemise and a belt. Generally the apron at the back will be very ornately decorated with a variety of different patterns.

As for women who live in the more mountainous areas of the country including South-eastern Thrace they wear a costume that is made up of a chemise, apron and belt, plus also a pinafore. This particular Bulgarian national costume is known as a Sukman and most of the decoration is concentrated around the lapels of the bodice as well as the skirt.

For women who live in Southern Bulgaria the wearing of a costume known as a Saya is commonplace. This particular outfit like the others is made up of a chemise, apron and belt along with a triangular shaped dress in a multitude of colors. The main decoration is included to the front of the bodice as well as to the sleeves of the chemise.

When it comes to the Bulgaria national costume in the area known as Rhodopes the wearing of a very similar outfit is commonplace. The costume worn by women here is made up of a chemise an apron. Although very similar the very ornate decoration to it helps to make it look very special.

When it comes to what the men will wear on special occasions theirs does not alter much from one part of Bulgaria to another. Mostly the male Bulgarian national costume is made up of a colorful waistcoat under which will be worn a white or black shirt along with white or black trousers. The shirt is almost like a tunic being very loose fitting.

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There are several different types of outfit that are worn by both men and women that can be considered to be the Bangladesh national costume. What is important to note however that some costumes tend only to be worn during special religious or cultural festivities, whilst others tend to be worn on a more daily basis.

In this article we take a look at the various different outfits that are worn today by the people of Bangladesh and which are considered to be their national costumes.

Kurta

This is one of the more traditional forms of clothing worn by men from Bangladesh. It comprises a loose fitting shirt that is of a length that sits just below or above the wearer’s knees. Often it is worn with either a loose fitting pair of pants known as paijama’s or Salwars or with a semi tight fitting pair of pants known as churidars. Along with being worn as formal dress this particular outfit tends to be worn on a daily basis also.

Lungi

This is tube shaped skirt and is generally made from woven cotton. Although the wearing of white ones is common they do come in a variety of different colors and designs. However if the lungi is going to be worn for more important occasions such as a wedding or at a special religious ceremony then it tends to be made from silk.

Most men tend to wear this particular Bangladesh national costume in one solid color or plaid, and blue is a particular popular color. But it doesn’t matter what design or color the lungi is most often have the top and bottom lined with a black or white stripe to ensure that the edges of this outfit won’t fray.

Salwar Kameez

Although women more commonly wear this outfit, some men prefer to wear it as well. The outfit comprises a pair of pyjama like pants known as the Salwar, which are wide at the top but narrow around the ankle. Also worn with it is a long shirt or tunic known as the Kameez. However the sides of the tunic are not sewn all the way down this then provide with those wearing it plenty of room to move freely.

One major difference between the outfit worn by men and women is that the women wear a long scarf or shawl with theirs known as a Dupatta. Normally this item will be worn around the head before then be draped over the shoulders.

Sari

This is probably the most recognizable of all the outfits that one would classify as being the Bangladesh national costume. The outfit itself is made up of one piece of cloth that measures between four and nine yards in length and which is draped over the body in a variety of different ways. However to provide the wearer with a little modesty normally a petticoat is worn underneath, and sometimes it may be worn with a blouse.

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The people of Uruguay have a strong sense of patriotism and national identity. This has come about because of their struggles to ensure that they retained their freedom from other countries such as Spain, Argentina and Brazil. Yet although they care about their country there is no particular Uruguay national costume that the people of this country may wear when important festivals or events take place.

However as the people are renowned for making beautiful things from leather and wool so their costumes do tend to involve the use of these materials.

But having said that just like some other South American countries the wearing of what is referred to, as the Gaucho outfit seems to be favored by many. Certainly the contestants from Uruguay who have entered the Miss Universe competition have favored this type of costume in a variety of different styles as their Uruguay National Costume.

Traditionally when worn this costume comprises a pair of trousers, a shirt, and a poncho. As for on their feet they will traditionally wear a pair of boots similar in style to those worn by cowboys in the USA.

The actual trousers or pants worn by both men and women as part of the Uruguay national costume are known as “bombachas de campo”. These generally are made from cotton and will come in a variety of different colors and styles. However one feature that is common to these and that clearly identifies them, as being bombachas de campo is the addition of buttons around the ankle area of them.

The addition of the buttons to the ankle area means that the wearer is able to decide how loose or tight the flares around this part of the leg are. As the wearer can decide to wear these trousers with the flares open or closed generally and additional piece of more colorful material is inserted into this area of the pants to help add to the styling of them.

Generally they come in more neutral colors such as black, brown, navy blue, green or even white. However some women do prefer to make theirs look a little more special by adding some embroidery around the waistline and pockets.

As for the poncho this is a very simple garment, which is usually one piece of woollen cloth in which a hole has been cut through the centre. Then the person places their head through this hole before the rest of the garment drapes over the rest of the body. Sometimes they may choose to take one corner of this item of clothing and place it over the opposing shoulder.

When it comes to footwear of course the wearing of boots with this outfit is most common. For the men they tend to wear very simple cowboy boots, which have some sort of decoration etched into the leather. Whereas for the women they prefer to wear more colorful boots in bright vibrant colors and which have been more ornately decorated than the mens.

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Traditional the national costume of Finland tends to be worn during special festivals that take place in the country. Although it may be worn during national holidays some people choose to wear the Finland national costume as wedding attire or to their graduation ball.

Plus of course the costume tends to be worn when people take part in special folk events including when dancing or singing.

As you will soon learn that when it comes to the national costume of Finland there are many types that can be worn. Which one is actually worn depends on which part of the country you are from.

The two types of Finland national costume that may be worn today are the Western and the Karelian. As you will soon realize they do differ quite a lot in appearance, even though basically the same articles of clothing are worn.

Also you will notice that when it comes to the Karelian version of this national costume that there are variations on the design dependent on which region the wearer is from. Plus these variations are very subtle so to the untrained eye actually being able to distinguish what they are can prove very difficult.

West Finnish Costume

Also referred to as the Mouhijarvi costume. The women’s version of this particular national costume of Finland features a high collared smock, a striped skirt and an apron with vertical stripes on it. Plus over the smock the women will wear a short backed bodice that has thin straps that go over the shoulders. On the feet are worn a pair of white socks teamed with a pair of black shoes. Traditionally worn with this is a cap known as “tykkimyssy” and a black jacket made from some form of wool.

Karelian Costume

This particular Finland national costume is much more elaborately decorated than the version above. Although it does look similar in that the women will wear a smock, skirt, apron and coat made from coarse wool they are also expected to wear a small shaped veil.

There are several types of different headwear that women can wear with this costume. Just as with the West Finnish costume it is perfectly acceptable for the tykkimyssy cap to be worn. However this is worn flat on the head and is normally only to be worn by women who are married.

For those women who are not married or for young girls it is more acceptable for them to wear silk ribbons in their hair or to wear a headband that is wreath like. This is known as the Sappali and some will have studs sewn onto the ribbons.

When it comes to the men they wear a Finland national costume that is very similar no matter what part of the country they are from. Generally the main differences to their costumes relate to their headwear. Some men will wear a peaked cap, whilst others will wear a wide brimmed hat made from felt. Then there are those who prefer to a knitted wool cap.

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There are many different countries that have played a huge role in the creation of the Israel National Costume. Not only do the Romans and Greeks have a hand in what is now this country’s national costume, but also so do the ancient Persians.

Today the national costume of Israel is made up of a number of different components and below we take a look at what these are.

Tallit

Some times called the Tallis or Talis it is a prayer shawl worn by Jewish people when at the synagogue reciting morning prayers. You will notice at the four corners there has been special twine that is knotted attached to them and this is known as the Tzitzit.

Tefillin

This is a pair of black leather boxers that are supposed to contain scrolls of parchment on which have been inscribed particular verses from the bible. The hand tefillin (shel yad) will be worn wrapped around the person’s arm, hand and fingers. As for the head tefillin (shel rosh) this is placed on the person’s forehead and is worn to serve as sign so that they remember that it was Moses who brought the children of Israel from Egypt.

The wearing of this particular item is done so on a daily basis and not just on special occasions.

Kippah

Also known as a yarmulke this is thin slightly rounded skullcap, which is worn at all times by observant Jewish people. Although it tends to be men that wear this item more often than women, sometimes women do include it when wearing the Israel national costume at special events or during special holy festivals.

Tembel Hat

This item of clothing is very much a symbol of Israel’s culture and that is why it is often worn as part of the Israel national costume. Unlike the bucket style hat that would normally be worn by military personnel in Israel this one has no loose edge so it does cast a shadow over the wearers face or neck.

As it is made from quite soft material when not being worn it can be folded up and placed in ones pocket. This particular item of clothing which is included as part of the national costume of Israel became popular at the start of the 20th Century and remained popular until the 1970’s.

Sandals

The biblical or tripel sandals that are worn as part of the Israel national costume are very simple in design. They are simply made up of a sole over which two pieces of leather (ligaments) cross over the foot and around the heel to ensure that they stay on whilst being worn. These sandals are often made from black or brown leather and are very similar in design to those that were worn by the ancient Romans, Greeks and Persians who chose to invade Israel thousands of years ago. Although simple in design the adding of beads or glass to them is not frowned upon.

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When it comes to the Portugal National Costume there isn’t one as such. Instead each particular region of the country has its own particular national costume. In most cases today Portugal’s national costume tends only to be worn for special events. Some people may choose to wear it when attending a wedding, whilst others may choose to wear it at significant religious festivals or at special festivals or fairs that take place throughout the year.

It also seems that when it comes to the wearing of this country’s national costume it is something that the older generation tend to favor more, than the young ones. This is especially the case in the country’s much larger cities. However, if you were to travel to some of the smaller towns and villages in Portugal you will notice the wearing of the national costume is enjoyed by both old and young alike.

As Portugal has been invaded several times over the centuries and being so close to Spain you tend to find that their costumes have been strongly influenced by the different cultures that have made this country their home over the centuries. For example in certain parts of Portugal especially those close to the Basque region of Spain their costumes have been strongly influenced by what the Spanish people wear.

The women’s costumes tend to be quite simple in design. Normally what the women and girls wear these days is a skirt that goes down as far as the ankles with a white blouse and a waistcoat. Both the skirt and waistcoat are made from a red material and in some cases may be decorated with embroidery. However there are some outfits especially those worn as certain festivals, which include much bolder colors within the designs including yellows and oranges.

Generally the women and girls will also wear a scarf around the head and sometimes a shawl around the shoulders. Just as with the rest of the outfit it will be red in color and then ornately decorated either through embroidery or the printing of patterns on to it.

As for the Portugal national costume worn by men there are several different types that can be worn. Which one is worn depends on which area of the country the man is from.

In some parts of Portugal it is common for the men to wear a pair of woollen trousers that only reach down to just below the man’s knees and which have ornate buttons decorated the sides of them.

On the upper half of the body is worn a very simple white shirt with a rounded collar over which is then worn a very simple vest. But in place of the vest they may actually choose to wear a short jacket that can either be left open or buttoned up. Plus some Portuguese men now prefer to wear a conventional shirt with a collar, which they leave open at the top so that a bright red neckerchief can be worn.

Whilst around the waist these men will wear a band of material again in the same bright red color. Although they want to complement the women with their Portugal national costume the men also need to make sure that they don’t outshine them.

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You will notice that Switzerland not only has a very distinctive culture but also a distinctive style of costume. Even though most people from Switzerland prefer to wear contemporary western style clothing the Swiss national costume is still worn at certain times of the year.

As you will soon discover that although the national costume is worn throughout Switzerland there are slight variations to the design dependent on which part of the country the person is from. Some are actually more elaborate than others because they have a great deal more embroidery to them.

One thing that should be noted with regards to the Swiss national costume is that it has in fact been influenced by many different cultures that have chosen to make Switzerland their home. Throughout the 18th Century this country enjoyed a period of wealth and as a result it allowed for much more luxurious costumes to be created. Not only was the embroidery on them more creative but also the use of lace to help add decoration to the costume was also included.

Even though such costumes can now only be seen in museums you will notice that the costumes worn today are very similar in design to them. However rather than the embroidery and lace work on the costumes being created by hand a lot is now made by machinery.

Typically the Swiss national costume worn by women is made up of a skirt, a blouse with short puffy sleeves and a tight fitting vest. Also a generous number of ribbons are used to help add further accents to the costume.

Generally the vest worn will have been embroidered with flowers that are to be found in gardens in Switzerland and again adding a touch more color to a very attractive outfit. Also worn with this costume are tights, most women prefer to wear read ones, but some choose to wear white.

As already mentioned costumes do vary from region to region in Switzerland. For example in the Unterwalden area of Switzerland the adding of silver into the costume is common. Whereas the costumes worn by women in the Gruyere region of the country includes an apron and a gold cap or a straw hat around which ribbons have been placed.

For the men they will wear costumes that are just as elaborate in decoration as the women’s. But there are a few stark differences between the Swiss national costumes worn in each region.

Those men who come from the Gruyere region of Switzerland will wear a cropped jacket, whilst those who live in the Alpine regions of the country instead of wearing long trousers wear “Lederhosen” instead. These are a pair of shorts made from leather. Just like the women the wearing of tights with the Swiss national costume is common place, but instead the men wearing ones in much darker colors.

Although there may be little embroider on the jacket, there is usually quite a bit around the shirt cuffs and around the pockets of the trousers or lederhosen that they are wearing.

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