Karel national costume

It will be a question of the type of costume that was found in the southern and western part of the Karelian Isthmus. The Finns called this type of costume Rekko, because of the specific type of embroidery on the shirt. This embroidery is done in front of the collar, as you can see in the image.

Karelia is a continuous area, but it is divided into three political parts. Here is a map showing the different regions of Karelia.

The regions of South and North Karelia are within the current borders of the Finnish state. The regions of White Karelia, Olonets Karelia and Ladoga Karelia are located within the Republic of Karelia in Russia.

It also includes the region of Zaonezhie, which lies east of Lake Onega and is populated exclusively by Russians, in order to dilute the percentage of Karelians within the Republic. Karelian Isthmus is currently part of the Leningrad Region in Russia, along with Ingria.

Karelians are closely related to the Finns, they speak Karelian, Finnish and are closely related to the original language. As a rule, the areas to the east of the border and Lake Ladoga speak pure Karelian.

And in the region of Finland, the Karelian Isthmus and north of Lake Ladoga speak Karelian dialects of the Finnish language.

There is also a community of Orthodox Karelians living in the Tver region in Russia.

They moved there to avoid religious persecution by the Lutherans, but they were mostly assimilated by the Russian population. The Karelian Isthmus with part of the territory north of Lake Ladoga was annexed by the Soviet Union from Finland in the 1940s. This land is still displayed on Finnish maps.

The costume, which will be discussed, was found in various parts of southern Finland, on the Karelian Isthmus, and in Ingria, which is south of the previous border. This women's costume is still supported by a small Karelian and Ingrian community, as well as by those who now live within the present borders of Finland.

The Karelian Isthmus with part of the territory north of Lake Ladoga was annexed by the Soviet Union from Finland in the 1940s. This land is still displayed on Finnish maps.

As can be seen from this map, in addition to Tuuteri, costumes with Rekko are found in the areas of Koivisto, Kuolemayaarvi, Uusikirkko, Muola, and others. They have, of course, now all Russian names. There are differences between the details of the costumes of different areas. This costume was also found south of the border, in some parts of Ingria, especially in areas north of St. Petersburg.

In Karelia, people lived in tense and difficult circumstances. The fabric was used more economically than in the western regions of Finland, but was compensated for by generous and colorful embroidery with traditional lace.

Rekko is the central element in the front of the shirt. The design, color and degree of embroidery varies by area. Valkyarvi made of orange, blue and white wool. In apparantly, the original color of the embroidery rekko was golden yellow. Some shades of yellow-orange are still the main ones. The open side is held in the closed position with an engraved silver or tin brooch mainly for married women.

On the image taken from the blog of a Finnish woman, you can see Rekko. She is an amazing seamstress and also makes sundresses. Her name is Soya.

Sometimes there are suits with fake rekko, It is simply sewn into a shirt.This photo is from the catalog of the company that makes the mass production of costumes. It is much easier to do.

In addition to rekko, a narrow strip of a collar, cuff, and shoulders is decorated with embroidery. In Ingria, the sleeves are often gathered at the top of the shoulder.

On the Karelian Isthmus, women's sundresses were worn in the east and south, and skirts in the north and west. Costumes Rekko come in any type, depending on the area.

On the western side of the isthmus, the skirt is worn in the same color as in Muola. Striped plaid sewn on the hem, as in Koivisto and Kuolemaayarvi.

In Ingria, rekko costume is also sometimes worn with a skirt.

Women's aprons of wool or linen, usually with embroidered elements and / or embroidery.

Linen aprons often have nyytinki inserts, reels, laces and / or edging, like this example from Saccola.

Tan - leather casual shoes, which are characteristic of Karelia. They are similar to those worn by the Sami (Lapps), but in short. They have a distinctive pointed sock.

In Ingria, the ribbon is often decorated with beadwork and metal plates. Here is an example from Tyro.

Married women wear a headdress called sorokka, which is made of fabric with embroidery and / or decorated with an appliqué tape around the head.

National suits for men include white linen or cotton long-sleeved shirts and wool trousers called luukkuhousut.

There is no lightning in front, instead a panel with buttons. At weddings, men were made to tie their shoulders with scarlet scarves.

Pants can be long or short. Costumes also include vests and short jackets, called roijy or coats. In some suits, men wear belts, scarves and hats.

• Lippalakki - cap with a hard peak in front;
• Pellilakki - a cap of several pieces;
• Varraslakki - knitted, pointed hat;

• Silinteri - a classic hat;
• Kairalakki - round cap of six parts without a peak;
• Huopalääppä - high felt hat with ribbon and pewter decoration;

• Hylkeenpyytäjän laaki - “cap of the hunter”, knitted hat.

Men also wore leather belts and a sheath knife.

The shoes were woven from birch bark, and the boots were rawhide. Winter shoes were koibi - boots made of deerskin.