Buryat national costume

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

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

Buryats live in Siberia - the Republic of Buryatia, the Irkutsk region and the Trans-Baikal Territory. History also knows that there are extensive Buryat settlements in Inner Mongolia of the PRC, in Mongolia, and Manchuria.

The Buryat costume is akin to many costumes of the Mongol-speaking and Turkic peoples. Buryats have long been nomads, were engaged in cattle breeding and hunting, lived in a harsh Siberian climate. This has largely influenced the presence in the national costume of many elements that give convenience and freedom of movement, practicality and all-weather season.

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

There are also tribal differences in the suit drilled. Conventionally, Buryats are divided into eastern and western genera relative to Lake Baikal. The traditional religion is drilled - shamanism and Lamaism (Buddhism) also brought their own shades.

The traditional men's degel in the form of a dressing gown with a top side and bottom was belted with a sash of silk, a leather belt decorated with silver and stones. Degel - the winter version of the dressing gown was sewn from sheepskin, trimmed on top with fabric - silk, velvet. The summer version was called terlig - thinner, without insulation. Everyday degels were made of cotton fabric.

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

• The collar was decorated in the form of a rack, the dressing gown itself was not tight-fitting, it gave freedom of movement.
• The sleeves of degal or terlig were one-piece to protect against winds and cold. The dressing gown was buttoned on the side. The number of buttons and their location also had a sacred meaning - the three upper buttons on the collar brought happiness, on the shoulders and in the armpit - a symbol of affluence, the lower buttons on the waist were considered a symbol of honor. The buttons were silver, coral, gold.
• The sleeve had a cuff - turuun (hooves) 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 cattle, wealth.
• The length of the robe was such as to cover the legs when walking and riding a horse. In addition, on one floor of the degel it was possible to lie down, and the other to take refuge with nomads.

A cotton shirt and pants made of leather and fabric were worn under a degel or terlig. A mandatory element of a man’s suit was a belt. It was sewn of different materials and had different lengths and widths, decorated with stones, silver buckles. A knife, a snuffbox, and other accessories were worn on the belt.

Women's costume underwent changes with age. Girls wore regular degels and terligs with a sash until adolescence.

With the onset of 13-15 years, the cut of the dress changed - it became cut-off at the waist, a braid was sewn on top of the seam - an ace.

With marriage, a sleeveless jacket was added to the women's suit. It could be short in the form of a vest or long, depending on belonging to a particular genus. The front edges of the vest were decorated with ornament, embroidery, contrasting ribbons or braid.

The lower shirt was sewn of cotton, and pants were also worn.

The most complex system was women's jewelry. In addition to traditional earrings, rings, bracelets and necklaces, the Buryats also had others - temporal rings, chest jewelry, elegant belts, coral beads, silver pendants. In some genera, there were shoulder decorations, side pendants on the belt, hair ornaments, amulets. Women's jewelry showed not only belonging to the family, but also the wealth of the family, social status.

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

Both men and women always wore a hat. Headgear was diverse and varied among different genera.

In western Buryats, the headgear had the shape of a cap trimmed with fur on the lower edge. The top was sewn of velvet or other fabric, decorated with embroidery, coral beads, braid. The fur was used from otter, deer, lynx, sable.

Caps with earflaps with fur with a long nap - foxes, foxes were also worn.

The head of the eastern Buryats was in the shape of a cone with a high top and curved edges. Also popular was a hat in the form of a yurt or a hill with a sharp end decorated with a bead or a tassel - the most characteristic of the inhabitants of Buryatia and Mongolia.

Hats also differed in the geography of residence - Khorinsky, Aginsky, etc.

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

Shoes drilled consisted of leather boots, felt on a flat sole with bent up toes.Bent socks were designed not to harm the earth and living things when walking.

Both men and women wore such shoes. Genuine leather shoes were comfortable, hygienic and practical. Shoes were decorated with embroidery on the top or with contrasting stitches in the form of ornaments and patterns.

Winter boots were with insulation made of sheepskin, wild animals. Winter options are also presented in the form of high boots.

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

The modern stylization of the national costume is extremely popular in Buryatia. Used degel styling of different lengths, in the form of an evening dress, outerwear. The original cut of sleeves, gates, with inserts with enger - a step pattern of colored stripes, cuffs is used.

The fabrics that deserve attention are silk, satin with drawings and textured embroidery, with interweaving of silver and gold threads, traditional bright colors - blue, red, green, yellow, turquoise.

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

In everyday life, you can increasingly notice the stylized national shoes in the form of uggs, high boots, boots. As well as hats with fur in the national style combined with genuine leather, suede.

The traditional Buryat costume is worn on major national holidays - Sagaalgan (White month - the beginning of the New Year according to the lunar calendar), Surkharban (sports summer holiday), theatrical shows, religious holidays, a meeting of honored guests.

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

In recent years, inter-regional competitions of fashion designers have begun to be held, using stylized national costumes and ethnic motifs in their collections. Many interesting models from such shows fall into the "masses" and become popular among young people.

Unusually warm and comfortable models of sheep wool with the addition of cashmere are very useful in Siberian frosts. It can be a trouser version with a stylized top for a national Buryat costume - a stand-up collar, a stepped side on the chest, an unusual sleeve, a hood. Or this is an option with a soft silhouette, tight, but not restricting movement, with a maxi-length skirt or dress, with ethnic patterns. Wool is a thin and original material that gives heat to cold and breathes in heat. Adding an original hat in ethnic style, your image will become unforgettable.

The original outfit in white with a silver contrasting design in the form of piping and accents is suitable for an evening out and as a wedding dress. The interesting design of the bodice and the asymmetry of the shoulder with a silver edging looks like a stepped Enger insert, a side ornament at the waist and at the point of attachment of the drape gives ethnicity and airiness to the image. The vertical silver stripe on the skirt again evokes national motifs. At the same time, the length of the dress above the knees does not look defiant. Adding unique jewelry to your head with silver side pendants will surely be irresistible.

Another look for an evening out or wedding celebration in white with gold will be unforgettable. From the national Buryat costume there is a detachable skirt with a top, original gold embroidery in the form of an ornament, national jewelry - bracelets, a chest necklace and a rich headdress. The dress has a short sleeve trimmed with a gold edging, like a bodice. Gold high headpiece with jewelry on the forehead and pendants gives femininity, beauty and chic. The splendor and length of the skirt emphasize the slimness of the waist.