Regional Costumes

A place of windmills, thatched houses and home made beer, ruled over in the past by Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Russia.  This is Estonia's largest island, Saaremaa. One of the 2013 Folk Costume set features the Karja who live in the north east of that island.  The Maximum card shows a young married woman wearing one of the typical hats of the area which can be of floral or geometric design.  The stamp itself

shows an elderly couple wearing the long coats originating in the 19th Century, the mittens are an essential part of the attire which are stuck in the belt when not keeping hands warm.  I imagine those mittens are an essential in a Baltic winter.

The next stamp shows the detail of a costume possibly most recognisably Portuguese on the left

2007: Regional Costumes

the bright colours of the Lavradeira  The elaborate embroidery and gold necklaces of the stamp on the right is the equivalent for a wedding.

Next we have costumes mostly associated with places of work starting

on the left with the Capa de Honras (Cloak of Honours) worn by cattle keepers and shepherds in the coldest months in the north of Portugal.  The next stamp is the Pauliteiro from the north east of the country worn by men performing a warrior dance to bagpipes. The origin of the skirt is unknown but some think it may have a Greek influence.  The embroidered ships on the next item give a clue to its origin for this is a Camisola de Pescador, a Fisherman's Shirt.  Lastly a most unusual item of clothing, the Cape of Reeds worn by shepherds (usually accompanied with a straw hat).

Heading to the seaside for the next stamp on the left

it is a costume from Nazare consists of seven skirts.  In the past the women would sit on the beach waiting for the men to return from fishing, perhaps they were counting the waves in skirt numbers (the seventh wave is always the largest). The red waistcoat on the next stamp is that of a campino, a horse backed cattle herder who manages and directs the cattle with long poles.  The next costume is from the Algarve camponesa (where there is a museum dedicated to regional costumes).  Lastly we have the Alentejo Capote, a winter coat which has a deep opening at the back to make it easier for horse riding.

An entry to Sunday Stamps II theme of - Folk or National Costumes - travel the world in costume here