Construction

I received a lot of comments on the "bunad" costume for my granddaughter.  Here are some close-ups:

Hardanger style embroidery used in the apron.  This is a stock, buy-by-the-meter,  lace band.

And another apron... Think of the work if this was handmade!  It would take me many painful months to sew and cut the threads...

The vest is totally lined and sewn to the skirt.  The skirt and vest can both be lengthened here.

The shoulder tops are lengthened or shortened, here.

This is the front of the vest.  There are three hooks holding it closed.  And two more hooks holding the tab.  You can see that the first threads are still there from when the tab was used for the 2-year-old size.  (Looking at close-up photos...someone didn't do a very nice job of attaching the tab...hmmm, me?)

Inside, the vest can grow in width and length.

We'll see how much we need for next year!

The 17th of May

Reporting a month later, but still fun to remember!

The school children meet up at their schools, and...

with their banner (Kronstad Skole), they begin the 2 mile walk

into the city center, meeting up with other schools along the way.

Everyone dresses up and takes to the streets... 

Here are some of the teachers.  The woman on the right showed us her jewellery which is made from rare coins that have been in her family.

And here is my family.

Here is another school coming down the mountain to meet us.

Here is the beginning of the real parade, 2 hours later!

The "People's Parade" has all of the colourful organisations represented.

Bagpipes to African Dancers, 

and bicycles of all types.  The two parades pass each other and we are there at the ending of one parade and the end of the other.

Yep!  This is definitely why I planned this trip THIS May.

We weren't the only ones taking pictures!

A day for dress up

This is a bunad, in size 4-7, purchased at Oslo Husfilden in 1984 for my daughter.  She didn't wear it much, certainly not once a year... until she grew out of it.  It was a sentimental/impulse purchase as we were leaving Norway.  Actually, it was my husband's idea, and I thought at first it was just silly, but the longer I have it, the happier I am!  Especially now that my granddaughter who is half Norwegian can get lots of use out of it.  

Define: lots...

lots= once a year or more. 

It is very plain compared to most "bunads".  Others have beads, embroidery, shawls, capes, and woven braid trim, and are longer.  I think it's lovely, and with her Norwegian grandmother's jewellery, it's good enough to get a special report in the local newspaper.  

How does it fit a 4 year old and a 7 year old?  It is heavily hemmed, and the side and shoulder seams are overlapped so they can be opened up.  It should be good for one more year!

Traditional Dress

Norway is a country where tradition and progressive thought merge beautifully. 

Let's talk tradition:  First of all, the landscape is stunning.  Tourists agree and the locals admire it every Easter.  Most Norwegians have Easter week plans to get the last bit of winter nature out of their systems before ALL of the snow disappears:  Skiing in the mountains is probably the most common tradition for them.
But the MOST traditional of traditions is the "bunad".  This is their traditional dress which differs for every location within Norway.  Each valley has not only its own dialect, but its own dress.  Here is a picture I took on the most traditional of days: May 17th, where everyone who has a bunad wears it proudly while strolling the streets and watching the parades.

This is at the harbor in Bergen.  I swear this is the best day to get Norwegians to pose for pictures.  It takes time to get into these costumes and everyone is very proud to show them off. When the weather cooperates, as it did on this day, nothing is better.  No work, just enjoyment that day. 
What prompted me to write about the 17th of May today is  C & H's wedding last week.  H's mother arrived in town with a suitcase full of her bunad.  I had no idea of the layers!  Keep in mind that once you own a bunad, you jump at the chance to wear it at every appropriate occasion!  Someday I'll ask her how often she gets to wear it, however, I know that she has worn it for the weddings of her three children.  
She disappeared into the bathroom and emerged with most of it on and needing a little assistance with the jewelry.

It's quite the work of art, and I imagine that it's a tradition to be able to sew these and present them to brides.  This one is intricate and worn with pride.  The vest is surprisingly colorful, and the whole thing can be comfortably worn outdoors--sturdy fabric!

See the laptop?
That's M visiting the party from 4,000 miles away, keeping up his end of the conversation.