Albanian national clothing
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The traditional clothing of Albania (Albanian: Veshjet Tradicionale Shqiptare; Veshjet Kombëtare; Veshjet Popullore or Kostumet Kombëtare) includes more than 200 different varieties of clothing in all Albania and the Albanian-speaking territories and communities (including the Arbëreshë in Italy, Arvanites in Greece and Arbanasi in Croatia). Albania's recorded history of clothing goes back to classical times.[1] It is one of the factors that has differentiated this nation from other European countries, dating back to the Illyrian period.
Almost every cultural and geographical region in Albania has its own specific variety of costume that varies in detail, material, color, shape, and form. Albanian folk dress is often decorated with symbolic elements of Illyrian antique pagan origin, like suns, eagles, moons, stars, and snakes.[2] Fabrics are traditionally made by weaving clothes using looms. To this day, some conservative old men and women mainly from the North wear traditional clothing in their daily lives. Instead, older women from the South usually wear all-black outfits.
Parts[]
Albanian dress consists of the following
Headgear[]
Men[]
The following headdresses are in use for men:
- Qeleshe [cɛˈlɛʃɛ] or plis: a type of hat worn by men in Albania, Kosovo, and the Albanian-speaking parts of Greece and North Macedonia. In central Albania (Tirana, Durrës, Kavaja) it is cone-shaped, and in North Albania and Kosovo round.
- Albanian hat (French: Chapeau albanois)[3] worn typically during the 15th to 18th centuries[4] and immortalized in Onufri's paintings.
- Qylafë [ˈcylaf]: a woolen high hat worn in southern Albania.[5]
Women[]
The following headdresses are in use for women:
- Kapica [kaˈpitsa]: a headdress for women.
- Langi, other names include: peshqira, riza, marhamë, pashnik.
- Lëvere [ləˈvɛɾɛ]: right shaped headdress.
- Kryqe [ˈkɾycɛ]: square shaped headdress.[6]
Pants and upper body covers[]
- Fustanella [fustaˈnɛɫa]: traditional skirt-like garment worn by men.
- Tirqe[7] [tiɾc]: long pants worn by men.
- Brekusha [8][bɾɛˈkuʃa]: for men and women.
- Xhubleta [dʒuˈblɛta]: Only worn by women.
- Mbështjellëse[9]- Only worn by women.
Xhamadan[]
A xhamadan is a traditional vest, which is worn by Albanian men throughout Albania, in Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, and in the Arbëresh villages in Italy.
Brez[]
Brez are traditional belts, which are worn by Albanian men throughout Albania, in Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, and in the Arbëresh villages in Italy.
Çorape[]
Çorape are traditional socks which are worn by Albanian men throughout Albania, in Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, and in the Arbëresh villages in Italy.
Opinga[]
Opinga Albanian pronunciation: [ɔˈpiŋɡa]: (Art sandals), are traditional shoes which are worn by Albanian men throughout Albania, in Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, and in the Arbëresh villages in Italy.
Gallery[]
Albanian folk singers
Central Albanian women's dresses
Woman's sleeveless jacket
Costumes from Dibra
Fustanella
Albanians in Greece
Albanian in Egypt
Traditional clothing
Albanian clothing from Kosovo
From Kosovo
From Kosovo
Kelmend region clothing
See also[]
- Culture of Albania
- Albanian dances
- Albanians
- Arbëresh
- Fustanella
- Traditional clothing of Kosovo
- Gjirokastër National Folklore Festival
References[]
- ^ "Albania", Encyclopedia of National Dress: Traditional Clothing Around the World, ABC-CLIO, 2013, p. 16, ISBN 9780313376368
- ^ Leyla Belkaid (2013), "Albania", in Jill Condra (ed.), Encyclopedia of National Dress: Traditional Clothing Around the World, I, ABC-CLIO, p. 16, ISBN 9780313376368
- ^ de La Curne de Sainte-Palaye, Jean-Baptiste (1875). Dictionnaire historique de l'ancien langage françois (in French). Champion (T. 01-09). pp. 316–.
- ^ Anamali, Skënder (2002). Historia e popullit shqiptar në katër vëllime (in Albanian). I. Botimet Toena. p. 300. OCLC 52411919.
- ^ Gjergji 2004: S. 191
- ^ Gjergji 2004: S. 194
- ^ "tirk - Wiktionary". en.wiktionary.org. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
- ^ "Traditional Albanian clothing - Nationalclothing.org". forum.nationalclothing.org. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
- ^ "dict.cc dictionary :: mbështjellëse :: English-Albanian translation". browse.dict.cc. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
Further reading[]
- Andromaqi, Gjergj (2004). Albanian Costumes Through the Centuries: Origin, Types, Evolution. Mësonjëtorja. ISBN 978-99943-614-4-1.
- Andromaqi, Gjerjgi (1999). Albanian Folk Costumes. Instituti i Kulturës Popullore, Departamenti Etnologjisë. ISBN 978-99927-654-6-3.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Traditional Albanian clothing. |
- Albanian costumes at Albanian-Folklore.com
- Albanian folk costumes in early postcards
- Traditional Albanian Costumes Group on Flickr.com
- Infoarkiv: Etnografia e rrezikuar Archived 13 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine (in Albanian)
Artisan skilled crafts[]
- Albanian culture
- Albanian traditions
- Albanian clothing
- Folk costumes