Buryat national costume

The national costume not only reflects the belonging to any people, ethnic group, but also combines the culture of this people. His lifestyle, traditions and originality.

The Buryat national costume was no exception and clearly demonstrates the way of life and lifestyle that has been inherent in this people for many centuries.

Buryats live on the territory of Siberia - the Republic of Buryatia, the Irkutsk Region and the Trans-Baikal Territory. Stories also know that there are extensive settlements of Buryats in Inner Mongolia, China, in Mongolia, Manchuria.

The Buryat costume is akin to many of the costumes of the Mongolian and Turkic peoples. Buryats have long been nomads, engaged in cattle breeding and hunting, lived in the harsh Siberian climate. This largely influenced the presence in the national costume of many elements, giving convenience and freedom of movement, practicality and seasonality.

At first, improvised materials such as sheepskin, fur-fur (arctic fox, fox, sable and others), genuine leather, and wool were used in the Buryat costume. Later, with the emergence of trade relations, silk, velvet, cotton, jewelry made of stones, silver, and gold were added to the costume.

There are also tribal differences in the Buryat costume. Conventionally, Buryats are divided into eastern and western genera relative to Lake Baikal. The traditional Buryat religion - Shamanism and Lamaism (Buddhism) also contributed to their shades.

A traditional male degal in the form of a dressing gown with a top side and a bottom girdle was a silk sash, a leather belt adorned with silver and stones. Degal - winter version of the dressing gown was made of sheepskin, trimmed on top of the fabric - silk, velvet. The summer version was called a terlig - thinner, without insulation. Casual degaly sewn from cotton fabric.

The male degal was necessarily adorned with three multi-colored stripes on top, called the enger. Each color had a special meaning: black - fertile soil, blue - the color of the sky, green - earth, red - cleansing fire. Engar stripes had a clear arrangement in colors, the upper strip could be different in belonging to a certain genus, the tribe - Enger was located in steps on the chest.

• The collar was designed in the form of a stand, the dressing gown itself was not fitting, it gave freedom of movement.
• The sleeves of degal or terlig were single cut to protect against winds and cold. A bathrobe buttoned at the side. The number of buttons and their location also had a sacred meaning - the three top buttons on the collar brought happiness, on the shoulders and in the armpit - a symbol of wealth, the bottom buttons on the waist were considered a symbol of honor. The buttons were of silver, coral, gold.
• The sleeve had a cuff - turuun (hoof) in the form of a cone. In the cold, the cuff turned away and protected her hands. The front part of the cuff was decorated with embroidery, patterns, symbolizing the number of livestock, wealth.
• The length of the robe was such that it would cover the legs when walking and riding a horse. In addition, one floor of degala could lie down, and the other to take shelter during the wanderings.

A cotton shirt and trousers made of leather and fabric were worn under the degal or terlig. An obligatory element of a men's suit was a belt. It was sewn from different materials and had a different length and width, decorated with stones, silver buckles. A knife, snuffbox, and other accessories were worn on the belt.

Women's costume has undergone changes with age. The girls wore the usual degely and terligi sash before adolescence.

With the onset of 13-15 years, the dress cut was changing - it became cut off at the waist, a band — touse — was sewn on top of the seam.

With marriage in a women's suit sleeveless was added. She could be short in the form of a vest or long, depending on the membership of one or another genus. The front edges of the vest were decorated with ornaments, embroidery, contrast ribbons or braid.

The undershirt was made of cotton, and pants were also put on.

The most complex system consisted of women's jewelry. In addition to traditional earrings, rings, bracelets and neck jewelery, there were others at the wilderness - temporal rings, chest decorations, elegant belts, coral beads, silver pendants. Some genera existed shoulder jewelery, side belt pendants, hair ornaments, amulets. Women's jewelry showed not only the identity of the family, but also the wealth of the family, social status.

Women's Buryat jewelry was made of silver with stones from coral, amber, turquoise and other natural stones. Silver jewelry had a filigree forging in the form of national ornaments and patterns.

Both men and women always wore a headdress. Headgear was varied and varied in different genera.

At the western Buryats, the headdress had the form of a cap, trimmed along the bottom edge with fur. The top was sewn of velvet or other fabric, decorated with embroidery, beads from coral, braid. The fur was used from otter, deer, lynx, sable.

Also wore caps such as fur hat with fur with a long pile - fox, fox.

The eastern Buryats had a headdress in the shape of a cone with a high crown and bent edges. Also popular was a hat in the form of a yurt or a hill with a pointed end, decorated with a bead or tassel - the most characteristic of the inhabitants of Buryatia and Mongolia.

Hats also differed by geography of residence - Horin, Agin, etc.

The Buryat headdress was a symbol of the sky, a respectful attitude was brought up by the vitality and attitude to it. It was impossible to throw him on the ground, to step over him, to treat disrespectfully.

Buryat shoes represented boots made of leather, felt on a flat sole with upturned toes. Curled socks were designed not to harm the earth and living creatures when walking.

Such shoes were worn by both men and women. Genuine leather shoes were comfortable, hygienic and practical. They decorated shoes with embroidery on the top or with contrasting seams in the form of ornaments and patterns.

Winter boots were with sheepskin fur and wild animals insulation. Winter options are also presented in the form of boots.

The summer version of shoes was sewn from horsehair on a flat sole.

Modern stylization of national costume is extremely popular in Buryatia. Styles are used under degal of different lengths, in the form of an evening dress, outerwear. The original cut of the sleeves, the collar, with the inserts with the enger - a stepped pattern of colored stripes, cuffs are used.

Fabrics - silk, satin with patterns and textured embroidery, with interweaving of silver and gold threads, traditional bright colors - blue, red, green, yellow, and turquoise deserve attention.

In modern fashion, Buryat costume styling in the form of an evening dress, blouse, coat, embroidery with an ornament, traditional patterns is popular, satin ribbons and ribbons are used for decoration. Silver jewelery with corals, turquoise, and agate are actively used.

In everyday life, it is increasingly possible to notice stylized national footwear in the form of ugg boots, boots, boots. And also headdresses with fur in national style in combination with genuine leather, suede.

The traditional Buryat costume is worn on major national holidays - Sagaalgan (White Month - New Year's Eve according to the lunar calendar), Surkharban (sports summer holiday), on theatrical performances, religious holidays, meeting of honored guests.

Modern models of wedding dresses in national style are becoming increasingly popular. Many artists use the national Buryat costume for their stage image.

In recent years, inter-regional contests have been held for fashion designers using stylized national costume and ethnic motifs in their collections.Many interesting models from such shows fall into the "masses" and become popular with young people.

Unusually warm and cozy models of sheep wool with the addition of cashmere is very useful in the Siberian frosts. This may be a trouser version with a stylized top for a national Buryat costume - a stand-up collar, a stepped bead on the chest, an unusual sleeve, a hood. Or it is an option with a soft silhouette, tight, but not constraining movement, with a maxi-long skirt or dress, with ethnic patterns. Wool is a thin and original material that gives warmth to the cold and breathing in the heat. Having added an original headdress in ethno-style, your look will be unforgettable.

The original dress in white with silver contrasting design in the form of edges and accents will suit both the evening out and as a wedding dress. An interesting design of the bodice and the asymmetry of the shoulder with a silver edging looks like a stepped Enger insert, the side ornament at the waist and at the place of fastening the cape gives ethnicity and lightness to the image. The vertical silver stripe on the skirt again brings national motives. The length of the dress above the knees does not look defiant. Having added unique jewelry on the head with side pendants in silver, you will definitely be irresistible.

Another image for an evening out or a wedding celebration in white with gold will be unforgettable. From the national Buryat costume there is a detachable skirt with a top, an original gold embroidery in the form of an ornament, national ornaments - bracelets, a breast necklace and a rich headdress. The dress has a short sleeve trimmed with gold edging, as well as a bodice. A golden high headdress with a decoration on the forehead and pendants gives femininity, statist and chic. The pomp and length of the skirt emphasize the slimness of the waist.