Polish Folk CostumesPolish Folk Costumes

Author: Krzysztof Rycak, Author: Krzysztof Rycak, a pupil of Class 3c of the 16a pupil of Class 3c of the 16thth Gymnasium Gymnasium

in Lublin, Polandin Lublin, Poland

What is Folklore?What is Folklore?

FolkloreFolklore consists of legends, music, consists of legends, music, oral history,oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of that culture, subculturethe traditions of that culture, subculture

or group. It is also the set of practices or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres through which those expressive genres are sharedare shared. .

Folk Costumes in Poland Folk Costumes in Poland were used by most Polish ethnic groups. were used by most Polish ethnic groups. The peak of their greatness occurred The peak of their greatness occurred during the second half of the 19during the second half of the 19thth and early and early 2020th th century, when the peasants got their century, when the peasants got their freedom, and thus became wealthier.freedom, and thus became wealthier.The style of the outfits depended on the The style of the outfits depended on the region: climatic conditions, socio-economic region: climatic conditions, socio-economic relations and its history. Ideas for the relations and its history. Ideas for the designs often derived from the aristocratic designs often derived from the aristocratic and bourgeois costumes, as well as and bourgeois costumes, as well as military uniforms. military uniforms.

Folk Costumes in Poland Folk Costumes in Poland - today- today

Poland remains one of the few European Poland remains one of the few European countries countries in the 21in the 21stst century, where one can still century, where one can still encounter “living” manifestations of folk culture. encounter “living” manifestations of folk culture. Genuine folk costumes are frequently used by Genuine folk costumes are frequently used by Poland’s many folk dance companies like Poland’s many folk dance companies like ‘Mazowsze’ or the ‘‘Mazowsze’ or the ‘Reprezentacyjny Zespół Reprezentacyjny Zespół Artystyczny Wojska PolskiegoArtystyczny Wojska Polskiego’.’.For the tourists, staff in many regional-cuisine For the tourists, staff in many regional-cuisine restaurants enhance the traditional ambience by restaurants enhance the traditional ambience by dressing up in such costumes.dressing up in such costumes.

MazoviaMazovia

OberekOberek is the liveliest is the liveliest and the fastest and the fastest of the of the five five Polish national Polish national dancedancess. . ItIt originated originated inin the the Mazovia Mazovia region region inin 1679 1679. .

Clothes used in OberekClothes used in Oberek

Men: A white-Men: A white-cloth coat cloth coat long long to the ankles to the ankles with padded with padded collar, blue collar, blue ribbon, and ribbon, and colourful colourful woolen waist woolen waist belt.belt.

Women: Women: Woollen Woollen hand-hand-woven skirts woven skirts with a tiny red with a tiny red ribbon, a waist ribbon, a waist apron with apron with stripes similar stripes similar to the skirts’. to the skirts’.

MałopolskaMałopolskaKrakowiakKrakowiak is a lively is a lively dance from the city of dance from the city of Krakow and the Krakow and the region Małopolskaregion Małopolska (Lesser Poland). (Lesser Poland).

Clothes used in Krakowiak:Clothes used in Krakowiak:

Men - striped Men - striped trousers, long trousers, long coats of dark coats of dark colocolouurs, belts rs, belts with metal with metal elements and elements and characteristic characteristic caps called caps called 'rogatki' with 'rogatki' with peacockspeacocks feathers.feathers.

Women - long Women - long skirts with skirts with flower flower ornamentornamentss, , white aprons, white aprons, boleros with boleros with colocolouur r ornaments, ornaments, wreathwreathss of of flowers, flowers, and and usually with usually with colcoluuor ribbons.or ribbons.

KujawKujawyy KujawiakKujawiak,, a Polish a Polish national folk dance national folk dance fromfrom the region of the region of KujawyKujawy. It evolved. It evolved in in thethe 19th century. 19th century.

Clothes in KujawiakClothes in Kujawiak

Men - Men - characteristic characteristic red shirts, blue red shirts, blue coats and coats and trousers, trousers, sometimes sometimes aa cap is worncap is worn, , tootoo. .

Women - long, Women - long, blue skirts, blue blue skirts, blue boleros and boleros and white aprons white aprons tied at the back.tied at the back.

MasuriaMasuriaMazurMazur is a Polish folk dance is a Polish folk dance..

The clothing is the same as in Kujawiak. The clothing is the same as in Kujawiak. Mazur became popular in the whole of Mazur became popular in the whole of Poland and also almost all the Poland and also almost all the neighbouring countriesneighbouring countries i in n the the

17th century17th century..

Polonez Polonez

In contrast with Oberek, Krakowiak, In contrast with Oberek, Krakowiak, and Kujawiak, Polonez does not represent and Kujawiak, Polonez does not represent a particular region in Poland, but the country as a particular region in Poland, but the country as a whole. It evolved in the a whole. It evolved in the 18th century. 18th century. Being a Being a very ‘grand’ dance, very ‘grand’ dance, Polonez Polonez opens manyopens many ceremonceremonies – ies – inincludingcluding school school balls. balls.The clothing for Polonez depended The clothing for Polonez depended on the region of Polandon the region of Poland, formerly , formerly very rich and marvevery rich and marvelllouslous; ; nowadays – dinner jackets nowadays – dinner jackets or suits.or suits.

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References:References:

http://polskiinternet.com/english/info/folk-coshttp://polskiinternet.com/english/info/folk-costiums.htmltiums.html

http://culture.poland.com/polish-culture/musihttp://culture.poland.com/polish-culture/music/polish-national-dances/c/polish-national-dances/