National costumes of Poland (Polish: ''stroje ludowe'') vary by region. They are not worn in daily life but at folk festivals, folk weddings, religious holidays,
harvest festivals
A harvest festival is an annual celebration that occurs around the time of the main harvest of a given region. Given the differences in climate and crops around the world, harvest festivals can be found at various times at different places. ...
and other special occasions.
[ The costumes may reflect region and sometimes social or marital status.][
Poland's inhabitants live in the following historic regions of the country: Greater Poland, ]Lesser Poland
Lesser Poland, often known by its Polish name Małopolska ( la, Polonia Minor), is a historical region situated in southern and south-eastern Poland. Its capital and largest city is Kraków. Throughout centuries, Lesser Poland developed a ...
, Mazovia
Mazovia or Masovia ( pl, Mazowsze) is a historical region in mid-north-eastern Poland. It spans the North European Plain, roughly between Łódź and Białystok, with Warsaw being the unofficial capital and largest city. Throughout the centurie ...
, Pomerania
Pomerania ( pl, Pomorze; german: Pommern; Kashubian: ''Pòmòrskô''; sv, Pommern) is a historical region on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea in Central Europe, split between Poland and Germany. The western part of Pomerania belongs to ...
, Warmia
Warmia ( pl, Warmia; Latin: ''Varmia'', ''Warmia''; ; Warmian: ''Warńija''; lt, Varmė; Old Prussian: ''Wārmi'') is both a historical and an ethnographic region in northern Poland, forming part of historical Prussia. Its historic capital ...
, Masuria
Masuria (, german: Masuren, Masurian: ''Mazurÿ'') is a ethnographic and geographic region in northern and northeastern Poland, known for its 2,000 lakes. Masuria occupies much of the Masurian Lake District. Administratively, it is part of the ...
, Podlasie, Kujawy
Kuyavia ( pl, Kujawy; german: Kujawien; la, Cuiavia), also referred to as Cuyavia, is a historical region in north-central Poland, situated on the left bank of Vistula, as well as east from Noteć River and Lake Gopło. It is divided into three ...
and Silesia
Silesia (, also , ) is a historical region of Central Europe that lies mostly within Poland, with small parts in the Czech Republic and Germany. Its area is approximately , and the population is estimated at around 8,000,000. Silesia is split ...
.
Lesser Poland / Małopolska
* Kraków
Kraków (), or Cracow, is the second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city dates back to the seventh century. Kraków was the official capital of Poland until 1596 ...
region:[ The woman's costume includes a white blouse, a vest that is embroidered and beaded on front and back, a floral full skirt, an apron, a red coral bead necklace, and lace-up boots. Unmarried women and girls may wear a flower wreath with ribbons while married women wear a white kerchief on their head. The men wear a blue waistcoat with embroidery and tassels, striped trousers, a ''krakuska'' cap ornamented with ribbons and peacock feathers and metal rings attached to the belt.
* ]Lachy Sądeckie Lachy may refer to:
* Lachy, Marne, a commune in the Marne department in north-eastern France
* Lachy or Lendians, an ancient Polish tribe
* Lachy Sądeckie, the Lachy culture of the Sądeckie region of Poland
* Lachy, Podlaskie Voivodeship, a v ...
live in southern Lesser Poland, especially in Nowy Sącz County
__NOTOC__
Nowy Sącz County ( pl, powiat nowosądecki) is a unit of territorial administration and local government (powiat) in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, southern Poland, on the Slovak border. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result o ...
and Kotlina Sądecka.
File:43. TKB - Pilsko z Żywca 04.JPG, Western Kraków region
File:Mazowsze 2011.jpg, Eastern Kraków region
File:58th birthday of Śląsk Song and Dance Ensemble p82.jpg, Kraków region
File:58th birthday of Śląsk Song and Dance Ensemble p58.jpg, Lachy Sądeckie men's costume
File:58th birthday of Śląsk Song and Dance Ensemble p54.jpg, Lachy Sądeckie, including married woman's costume
File:07666 Polonia Francja Courcelles les Lens 1.jpg, Lachy Sądeckie, including unmarried woman's costume
File:Józef Miniewski.jpg, Lesser Poland
Gorals / Górale
Gorals
The Gorals ( pl, Górale; Goral dialect: ''Górole''; sk, Gorali; Cieszyn Silesia dialect, Cieszyn Silesian: ''Gorole''), also known as the Highlanders (in Poland as the Polish Highlanders) are an indigenous ethnographic or ethnic group primar ...
live in southern Poland along the Carpathian Mountains, in Podhale
Podhale (literally "below the mountain pastures") is Poland's southernmost region, sometimes referred to as the "Polish Highlands". The Podhale is located in the foothills of the Tatra range of the Carpathian mountains. It is the most famous ...
of the Tatra Mountains
The Tatra Mountains (), Tatras, or Tatra (''Tatry'' either in Slovak () or in Polish () - '' plurale tantum''), are a series of mountains within the Western Carpathians that form a natural border between Slovakia and Poland. They are the hi ...
and parts of the Beskids
The Beskids or Beskid Mountains ( pl, Beskidy, cs, Beskydy, sk, Beskydy, rue, Бескиды (''Beskydŷ''), ua, Бескиди (''Beskydy'')) are a series of mountain ranges in the Carpathians, stretching from the Czech Republic in the west ...
. Their costumes vary depending on the region.[
File:Polenez Dance Group, Surrey Fusion Festival 2010 a.jpg,
File:Young Gorals of Zywiec 2008 10.jpg, ]Żywiec
Żywiec () (german: Saybusch) is a town in southern Poland with 31,194 inhabitants (2019). Between 1975 and 1998, it was located within the Bielsko-Biała Voivodeship, but has since become part of the Silesian Voivodeship.It is the capital of Ż ...
File:43. TKB - Żywczanie z Żywca 08.JPG, Żywiec
File:07799 kostium goralski, Polska.png, Podhale
File:Góralka-Zakopane-17.07.1938.jpg, Zakopane
Zakopane ( Podhale Goral: ''Zokopane'') is a town in the extreme south of Poland, in the southern part of the Podhale region at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. From 1975 to 1998, it was part of Nowy Sącz Voivodeship; since 1999, it has been ...
(1938)
File:Szczawnica in Poland 1939.jpg, Szczawnica
Szczawnica is a resort town in Nowy Targ County in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. As of June 30, 2007, its population was 7,378.
Szczawnica has been a well-known resort town since the mid nineteenth century. Due to the presence o ...
(1939)
File:58th birthday of Śląsk Song and Dance Ensemble singer7.jpg, Gorals from Cieszyn Silesia
Cieszyn Silesia, Těšín Silesia or Teschen Silesia ( pl, Śląsk Cieszyński ; cs, Těšínské Slezsko or ; german: Teschener Schlesien or ) is a historical region in south-eastern Silesia, centered on the towns of Cieszyn and Český T ...
File:Przewodnicy tatrzanscy 1877.jpg, Tatra Gorals in 1877
File:Assumption of the Holy Mary Mass in Juszczyna, 2016.jpg, Żywiec Gorals in 2016
File:Grojcowianie in folk costume 01.jpg, Żywiec Gorals in traditional costume
File:Members of the 'Wiyrchowianie' folklore group in Podhale costume 02.jpg, Podhale Gorals in traditional costume
Subcarpathian region / Podkarpacie
* Rzeszów
Rzeszów ( , ; la, Resovia; yi, ריישא ''Raisha'')) is the largest city in southeastern Poland. It is located on both sides of the Wisłok River in the heartland of the Sandomierz Basin. Rzeszów has been the capital of the Subcarpathian ...
[
* Uplanders
* Lasowiacy
File:07702 Polonia Francja Pogórzania Polish Uplanders.jpg, Pogórzanie
File:43. TKB - Ziemia Myślenicka z Myślenic 01.JPG, Pogórzanie
File:Z rzeszowskie.jpg, Rzeszowiacy
File:43. TKB - Połoniny z Rzeszowa 13.JPG, Pogórzanie
File:07826 Bilder von der Marktplatzeröffnung im Freilichtmuseum Sanok durch Minister Zdrojewski, am 16. September 2011.jpg, Sanok (Kamraty)
File:Regional costume of Lasowiacy (Masurians), 2010 Bukowsko.JPG, Lasowiacy (Mazurians)
File:06615 Holiday Folk in Niebieszczany.jpg, Rymanów (Pogórzanie)
File:00361 Folk band Liszna.jpg, Liszna (Sanok)
File:Carpatho-Rusyn sub-groups - Sanok area Lemkos in original goral folk-costumes from Mokre (Poland) ..jpg, ]Lemkos
Lemkos ( rue, Лeмкы, translit= Lemkŷ; pl, Łemkowie; uk, Лемки, translit=Lemky) are an ethnic group inhabiting the Lemko Region ( rue, Лемковина, translit=Lemkovyna; uk, Лемківщина, translit=Lemkivshchyna) of Car ...
from Mokre, Sanok County
Mokre ( uk, Мокре, ''Mokre'') is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Zagórz, within Sanok County, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, in south-eastern Poland. It lies approximately south-west of Zagórz, south of Sanok, and south ...
File:Carpatho-Rusyn sub-groups - Przemyśl area Ukrainians in original goral folk-costumes..jpg, Lemkos from Przemyśl
Lublin region
* Lublin region is represented by the Krzczonów folk costume[
* ]Biłgoraj
Biłgoraj ( yi, בילגאריי, ''Bilgoray'', ua, Білґорай) is a town in south-eastern Poland with 25,838 inhabitants as of December 2021. Since 1999 it has been situated in Lublin Voivodeship; it was previously located in Zamość V ...
[
File:Z lubeskie.jpg, Lublin region
File:Polish Dozynki Festival in Adelaide, Australia, 2007.jpg, Lublin
File:Stroj bilgorajski damski.JPG, ]Biłgoraj
Biłgoraj ( yi, בילגאריי, ''Bilgoray'', ua, Білґорай) is a town in south-eastern Poland with 25,838 inhabitants as of December 2021. Since 1999 it has been situated in Lublin Voivodeship; it was previously located in Zamość V ...
File:Stroj bilgorajski meski.JPG, Biłgoraj
Silesia / Śląsk
* Bytom / Piekary Śląskie
Piekary Śląskie () (german: Deutsch Piekar; szl, Piekary) is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. The north district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union – metropolis with the population of 2 million. Located in the Silesia ...
in Upper Silesia[
* ]Cieszyn Silesia
Cieszyn Silesia, Těšín Silesia or Teschen Silesia ( pl, Śląsk Cieszyński ; cs, Těšínské Slezsko or ; german: Teschener Schlesien or ) is a historical region in south-eastern Silesia, centered on the towns of Cieszyn and Český T ...
, see
* Lower Silesia
Lower Silesia ( pl, Dolny Śląsk; cz, Dolní Slezsko; german: Niederschlesien; szl, Dolny Ślōnsk; hsb, Delnja Šleska; dsb, Dolna Šlazyńska; Silesian German: ''Niederschläsing''; la, Silesia Inferior) is the northwestern part of the ...
File:58th birthday of Śląsk Song and Dance Ensemble dancers21.jpg,
File:43. TKB - Wisła z Płocka 03.JPG, Cieszyn Silesia
Cieszyn Silesia, Těšín Silesia or Teschen Silesia ( pl, Śląsk Cieszyński ; cs, Těšínské Slezsko or ; german: Teschener Schlesien or ) is a historical region in south-eastern Silesia, centered on the towns of Cieszyn and Český T ...
File:58th birthday of Śląsk Song and Dance Ensemble dancers10.jpg,
File:Z dolnoslaskie.jpg, Lower Silesia
File:Zespół Wilamowce.jpg, Wilamowice
Wilamowice (earlier ''Willamowice'', german: Wilmesau, Wymysorys: ''Wymysoü'') is a rural town in southern Poland, situated in the Bielsko County, Silesian Voivodeship. The town is inhabited by a Germanic ethnic group of Vilamovians, who spea ...
, Vilamovians
Pomerania / Pomorze, Kujawy, Warmia
* Kashubians
The Kashubians ( csb, Kaszëbi; pl, Kaszubi; german: Kaschuben), also known as Cassubians or Kashubs, are a Lechitic ( West Slavic) ethnic group native to the historical region of Pomerania, including its eastern part called Pomerelia, in nor ...
inhabit Kashubia pl, Kaszuby
, native_name_lang = csb, de, csb
, settlement_type = Historical region
, anthem = Zemia Rodnô
, image_map = Kashubians in Poland.png
, image_flag ...
in north-central Poland.[
* ]Kujawy
Kuyavia ( pl, Kujawy; german: Kujawien; la, Cuiavia), also referred to as Cuyavia, is a historical region in north-central Poland, situated on the left bank of Vistula, as well as east from Noteć River and Lake Gopło. It is divided into three ...
[
* ]Pyrzyce
Pyrzyce ( csb, Përzëca; formerly german: Pyritz) is a town in Pomerania, north-western Poland. As of 2007, it had 13,331 inhabitants.
Pyrzycw is the capital of the Pyrzyce County in West Pomeranian Voivodeship (since 1999), which was previousl ...
[
* ]Warmia
Warmia ( pl, Warmia; Latin: ''Varmia'', ''Warmia''; ; Warmian: ''Warńija''; lt, Varmė; Old Prussian: ''Wārmi'') is both a historical and an ethnographic region in northern Poland, forming part of historical Prussia. Its historic capital ...
[
File:Witamiwilno.jpg, ]Kashubia pl, Kaszuby
, native_name_lang = csb, de, csb
, settlement_type = Historical region
, anthem = Zemia Rodnô
, image_map = Kashubians in Poland.png
, image_flag ...
File:Dzewus w kaszebsczich ruchnach.jpg, Kashubia
File:07669 Polonia Brazylia Araucaria 1.jpg, Kujawy
Kuyavia ( pl, Kujawy; german: Kujawien; la, Cuiavia), also referred to as Cuyavia, is a historical region in north-central Poland, situated on the left bank of Vistula, as well as east from Noteć River and Lake Gopło. It is divided into three ...
Masovia and central Poland
Places in Masovia
Mazovia or Masovia ( pl, Mazowsze) is a historical region in mid-north-eastern Poland. It spans the North European Plain, roughly between Łódź and Białystok, with Warsaw being the unofficial capital and largest city. Throughout the centurie ...
with distinctive costumes include:
* Łowicz
Łowicz is a town in central Poland with 27,896 inhabitants (2020). It is situated in the Łódź Voivodeship (since 1999); previously, it was in Skierniewice Voivodeship (1975–1998). Together with a nearby station of Bednary, Łowicz is a ma ...
[
* ]Kurpie
Kurpie () is one of a number of ethnic regions in Poland, noted for its unique traditional customs, such as its own types of traditional costume, traditional dance and distinctive type of architecture and livelihoods. Kurpie is also the name of t ...
of the Green and White Primeval Forests[
* Wilanow
* ]Opoczno
Opoczno ) is a town in south-central Poland, in eastern part of Łódź Voivodeship (since 1999), previously in Piotrków Trybunalski Voivodeship (1975–1998). It has a long and rich history, and in the past it used to be one of the most importa ...
[
* ]Sieradz
Sieradz ( la, Siradia, yi, שעראַדז, שערעדז, שעריץ, german: 1941-45 Schieratz) is a city on the Warta river in central Poland with 40,891 inhabitants (2021). It is the seat of the Sieradz County, situated in the Łódź Voivode ...
[
File:Małgorzata Czaczkowska & Mirella Kostrzewa.jpg, ]Łowicz
Łowicz is a town in central Poland with 27,896 inhabitants (2020). It is situated in the Łódź Voivodeship (since 1999); previously, it was in Skierniewice Voivodeship (1975–1998). Together with a nearby station of Bednary, Łowicz is a ma ...
File:Kurps in Warsaw-22-Baclawscy.jpg, Kurpie
File:43. TKB - Ziemia Myślenicka z Myślenic 09.JPG, Opoczno
Opoczno ) is a town in south-central Poland, in eastern part of Łódź Voivodeship (since 1999), previously in Piotrków Trybunalski Voivodeship (1975–1998). It has a long and rich history, and in the past it used to be one of the most importa ...
File:43. TKB - Chodowiacy z Chodowa 03.JPG, Central
File:43. TKB - Kurpianka z Kadzidła 01.JPG, Green Forest Kurpie
Kurpie () is one of a number of ethnic regions in Poland, noted for its unique traditional customs, such as its own types of traditional costume, traditional dance and distinctive type of architecture and livelihoods. Kurpie is also the name of t ...
File:Dziewczeta kurpiowskie-A.Chetnik-scan.jpg, Green Forest Kurpie in 1913
Podlaskie / Podlasie
* Podlasie
File:8. MFF Pražský jarmark 3790.jpg, Podlasie
File:Picnic.3 Harvest Festival 2011, Mońki.JPG, Stare Lewkowo
Greater Poland / Wielkopolska
* Bambrzy
Bambers, also known as Poznań Bambergians, are Poles who are partly descended from Germans who moved from the area of Bamberg (Upper Franconia, Germany) to villages surrounding Poznań, Poland. They settled in villages which had been destroyed du ...
[
* Szamotuly][
* Biskupianski][
File:Bamberki Boze Cialo2.jpg, ]Bambrzy
Bambers, also known as Poznań Bambergians, are Poles who are partly descended from Germans who moved from the area of Bamberg (Upper Franconia, Germany) to villages surrounding Poznań, Poland. They settled in villages which had been destroyed du ...
wearing unmarried woman's headpiece
File:JKRUK 20090906 MIESZKANCY KROBII W STROJACH LUDOWYCH NA JASNEJ GORZE IMG 8126.jpg, Married attire from Krobia
Upper class
The '' szlachta'' were Polish nobles and had their own attire which included the kontusz, pas kontuszowy (sash) and a crimson żupan
Żupan (; lt, žiponas, cz, župan, sk, župan, hu, kabát, be, жупан, uk, жупан) is a long lined garment of West or Central Asian origin which was worn by almost all males of the nobility in the multi-ethnic Polish–Lithuanian ...
.[
File:Zespół Pieśni i Tańca "Śląsk" Koncert Moniuszkowski 07.jpg, Nobility
File:Krakowskie bractwo kurkowe 01.JPG, Bractwo Kurkowe (Kraków)
File:Bractwo Kurkowe (9018851292).jpg, Bractwo Kurkowe (Kraków)
File:Zygmunt Gonzaga Myszkowski.jpg, 17th century
File:07615 Polonia Kanada Hamilton 1.JPG, ]Żywiec
Żywiec () (german: Saybusch) is a town in southern Poland with 31,194 inhabitants (2019). Between 1975 and 1998, it was located within the Bielsko-Biała Voivodeship, but has since become part of the Silesian Voivodeship.It is the capital of Ż ...
File:43. TKB - Beskid z Bielska-Białej 05.JPG, Żywiec
File:Król Stanisław Leszczyński.JPG, King Stanisław I Stanislav and variants may refer to:
People
*Stanislav (given name), a Slavic given name with many spelling variations (Stanislaus, Stanislas, Stanisław, etc.)
Places
* Stanislav, a coastal village in Kherson, Ukraine
* Stanislaus County, Cal ...
in a ''Cracovian'' costume
Burghers
''Mieszczanie'' were Polish burghers, among whom in 18th century czamaras gained a lot of popularity (especially in the Kraków
Kraków (), or Cracow, is the second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city dates back to the seventh century. Kraków was the official capital of Poland until 1596 ...
region, hence the alternative name ''Kraków coat'' for czamara). In 19th century czamara became a Polish national and patriotic attire.
File:Чимари 1848.jpg, Men in czamaras
File:Чимара 1848.jpg, Man wearing a czamara
See also
* Polish folk dances
Polish folk dances are a tradition rooted in ten centuries of Polish culture and history. Many of the dances stem from regional customs and historical events and are distinct from Czech, Slovak and Germanic styles. National dances include forma ...
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Polish costume
Polish culture
Polish clothing
Folk costumes