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| Woman in traditional bunad, 1892. |
It hit me that this is something I should have written about a long time ago, since I always get questions about it. The Bunad is the Norwegian national dress (or "suit") and I know a lot of my friends in the midwest have heard of it, or maybe has a grandmother who owns one, or has seen it in a scandinavian suovernir shops.
Wikipedia says: "
Bunad is an umbrella (ella, ella, ellah..)
term encompassing, in its broadest sense, a
range of both traditional rural garments (mostly dating to the 19th and
18th centuries) as well modern 20th century folk costumes. The Bunad movement has its root in 19th century national romanticism, which included an interest for traditional folk garments not only in Norway, but also in neighbouring countries such as Denmark and notably Germany. However, in Norway, national romanticist ideas had a more lasting impact, as seen in the use of folk inspired costumes.The designs are typically elaborate, with embroidery, scarves, shawls and hand-made silver or gold jewelry known as sølje. There are bunads both for men and women, although women's bunads are more diverse and popular.
However, according to daily manager Turid Liss Agersborg at Husfliden
Oslo, they now produce and sell more men’s bunads than women’s for the
first time in history.
A number of books on the history of bunads recount the story of how once when on holiday in Hardanger with her Danish husband the British Princess Maud of Wales
thought that the Hardanger bunads worn by the women in Hardanger were
so beautiful that she had one made for her. At that time she could have
had no inkling that a decade and a half later she would return to Norway
as its queen, the matriarch of a new dynasty of Norwegian kings. She
later wore this Hardanger bunad at numerous public appearances in
Norway, a tradition maintained by the present Queen Sonja, the Crown Princess Mette Marit and Princess Martha Louise, although Queen Sonja and her daughter wear the East Telemark bunads, Telemark being the ancestral county of the Queen's own family. In Norway, it is common to wear bunads at various celebrations such as: folk dances, weddings, and especially the May 17th National Day
celebrations. In recent years, its use has reached far outside folk
dancing, folk music, and particular holidays. Accepted as proper gala
attire, it is increasingly common to see people, and especially women,
dressed in bunad."
Now, I don't do a lot of folk dancing or galas (note sarcastic undertone), but I take great pride in having a bunad and wearing it for our independence day, and other celebretorial occations where a cocktail dress is not apropriate, or baggy jeans are too casual. I got my bunad, like most girls I know, for confirmation when I was 15. It was a gift from my parents, and mind you, this dress costs anywhere between $2.000 - $10.000, depending on what kind you get. It's normal to get the design originated from your region or the region where your parents where born. No hard choice for me there, both my parents were born in Nordland, and so was I! Imagine that. I don't mean to brag, but the Nordlandsbunad is often refered to as the most beautiful:) Personally I think the ones from Telemark, Trøndelag, Troms and Finnmark are incredibly beautiful as well, and hey, if you have norwegian ancestors, you should look up what bunad belongs to your heritage.
Now, because of all the jewlery, it takes a long ass time to put on, and in my case the whole thing is made out of thick wool (except for the shirt), meant to stand for cold weather, so I only use it for special occations, and preferably not midsummer nights:) Still, I plan to have it for the rest of my life, and I love wearing it. Makes me feel extra viking'y :) I considered bringing it over to the states on one of my visits, but I'm pretty protective of it, and it would take up a LOT of room in my suitcase. Plus, your midwest summers would kill me in this:) Enjoy the pics:
