The Norwegian national folk costume, called a bunad, is worn by both men and women and reflects the region of the wearer. It is used for traditional and festive celebrations, with the most popular occasion being Norwegian National Day on May 17. Standards have been set to maintain regional traditions.
Considered the Norwegian national folk costume, a bunad is worn by both men and women and reflects the region of the person wearing it. Today, bunads are used for traditional and festive celebrations, not just for folk dances, as they once were. The most popular occasion to wear a bunad is in celebration of Norwegian National Day or Norwegian Constitution Day, which falls on May 17 and commemorates Norway’s declaration as an independent nation.
A woman’s bunad is traditionally a skirt worn with a heavily embroidered blouse, over which is worn a highly decorated vest or bodice of calamanco or silk damask. The skirt will often present a type of bustle. Also, it is not uncommon to wear a shawl over one shoulder. Traditionally, women do not carry bags with a bunad, but will instead have a detachable crossbody or small bag worn at the waist and attached to a belt. A belt with a silver ornamentation is always worn as part of the ensemble.
For men, the bunad features long or long pants of one color. The waistcoat traditionally preferred as part of the costume is usually the most ornate piece of the outfit and will have the same embroidered motif as the corresponding women’s outfit from the same region. A plain jacket is often worn, and it will be made in the same material as the pants. Some fancier designs will use a jacket in a different color than the pants.
Both men and women have head coverings that are often worn as part of the regional costume. For women, a matching hat is worn, but not required to complete the costume. Floral motifs are commonly used in those designed for women, and the specific motif will be a common theme seen on every piece of the costume, even the bonnet. If a man wears a hat, he is usually not ornate like the woman’s hat, but is plain and will have the same color as the background of the bunad.
With the growing popularity of the bunad, it has become important to set standards to uphold regional traditions. National and local councils have now been installed in an attempt to maintain regional standards. These tips try to regulate the use of material, color and ornamentation in the creation of costumes.
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