Traditional Greek clothing has roots in ancient Greek and Byzantine fashion, with Turkish elements added during Ottoman rule. Different types of clothing include the foustanella, karagouna, Sarakatsana, and Pavlos Melas costume, each with unique features and regional variations. The foustanella, a pleated white kilt, is a well-known masculine costume, while the karagouna is a Thessalian women’s costume with black fringed armbands. The Sarakatsana costume is worn by nomadic Greek animal farmers and consists of a pleated black woolen dress, while the Pavlos Melas costume is a male folk dancer’s costume with an embroidered tunic.
The Greeks wear traditional costumes on special occasions, such as parties and weddings. Modern traditional Greek clothing has its roots in ancient Greek fashion and Byzantine costumes. Turkish elements were added during the period of Ottoman rule. There are multiple types of traditional Greek clothing, which vary from region to region. Different types of traditional Greek clothing include foustanella, karagouna, Sarakatsana, and the Pavlos Melas costume.
One of the best-known pieces of traditional Greek clothing is the foustanella, a pleated white kilt that derives from the ancient chiton. Foustanella is a masculine costume, worn mainly in the southern and central regions of Greece. The skirt is made of numerous obliquely sewn triangular pieces of fabric. The skirt has 400 folds, and the number symbolizes the years of Ottoman rule over Greece. Greek soldiers wore the foustanella during the 1821 revolution against the Turkish regime, and it is worn by members of the Greek Presidential Guard on solemn occasions.
Karagouna is a traditional Thessalian women’s costume and is a simplified version of a brightly colored wedding dress. The costume includes a long tunic with black fringes, covered by an embroidered white coat and a matching red velvet vest. The distinctive features of this type of Greek clothing are black fringed armbands. A black embroidered scarf decorated with gold coins is wrapped around the head.
A Sarakatsana costume is a handcrafted piece of traditional Greek clothing, worn by nomadic Greek animal farmers. The costume is a pleated black woolen dress worn over a white cotton blouse. A sleeveless jacket covered by an apron and collar is worn over the black dress. This costume is completed with fleece arm and leg coverings and a black wool scarf worn on the head. Sometimes silver earrings, belts and bracelets complement the Sarakatsana costume.
The Pavlos Melas costume is characteristic of male folk dancers and is an expression of Greek national pride. It was originally a Macedonian wrestler costume worn by men during the wars with the Ottomans and Bulgarians. His name derives from Pavlos Melas, a Greek officer whose sacrifices and heroic deeds helped liberate Macedonia from Turkish rule. The costume consists of an embroidered tunic worn over white pants. This is the official military uniform of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Athens.
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