COMENIUS PROJECT

Childrens' folklore outfits, national dress

(or to use the latest expression-costumes)

in the Styria region of Slovenia

According to the research carried out by dr. Marija Makarovic, all sources indicate that in the past children dressed similarly to their parents.

Old photographs from around 1930 clearly show that girls wore long aprons. The aprons had different necklines, were made mostly from black cloth, and fastened at the back. Boys wore blue aprons, and in the summer rolled their trousers up. Younger girls didn't wear aprons; instead, they wore lighter dresses, cut and gathered at the bust. These clothes were worn for playing.

Boys' Sunday dress:

Boys wear white shirts gathered at the shoulder. Waistcoats are made from similar materials to the trousers, and are either grey or brown in colour. The waistcoats are either with or without collars, double or single breasted. A hat is also worn. Shoes are either low or to the ankle, and brown or black. The socks are dark blue.

Girls' national dress:

Girls wear white or light pink cotton or linen blouses. Underskirts are very wide and well-starched. The skirts are flannel in one colour, or patterned cotton or printed material and three metres wide. They are gathered only at the back with a belt of the same material and  fasten at the front. The aprons, which hang from the waist down are black cloth or linen in one colour or lightly patterned printed material. They are gently gathered at the sides and not too short. Headscarves are white. Girls with longer hair do not wear scarves, instead their hair is put into pretty pigtails. Hair is not allowed to fall onto the forehead and must be kept tied back. Shoes are low or to the ankle, either black or dark brown.

The folklore group in our school, which we run as a club, includes children from 2nd to 5th grade. The children who join are mostly those who like to sing, dance and play a variety of games.

The costumes our folklore group wears are mostly childrens' clothes made from printed or one colour cotton, cut and gathered at the bust. Since there are only two boys in the group, they wear one colour cotton trousers and white shirts. They dance barefoot or in black school plimsolls. The group performs on the whole at school and community celebrations and also takes part in the annual regional folklore review.

Written by: Ivanka Hozjan Šela