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 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 Greater Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska (; german: Großpolen, sv, Storpolen, la, Polonia Maior), is a historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief and largest city is Poznań followed by Kalisz, the oldest city ...

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 s ...

, Mazovia, Pomerania, Warmia,

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 Podlachia, or Podlasie, ( pl, Podlasie, , be, Падляшша, translit=Padliašša, uk, Підляшшя, translit=Pidliashshia) is a historical region in the north-eastern part of Poland. Between 1513 and 1795 it was a voivodeship with the c ...

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 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 of ...

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 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 high ...

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 a ...

. 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 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 p ...

(1938) File:Szczawnica in Poland 1939.jpg, Szczawnica (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 Tě ...

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 File:Carpatho-Rusyn sub-groups - Przemyśl area Ukrainians in original goral folk-costumes..jpg, Lemkos from

Przemyśl Przemyśl (; yi, פשעמישל, Pshemishl; uk, Перемишль, Peremyshl; german: Premissel) is a city in southeastern Poland with 58,721 inhabitants, as of December 2021. In 1999, it became part of the Subcarpathian Voivodeship; it was pr ...

Lublin region

Lublin Lublin is the ninth-largest city in Poland and the second-largest city of historical Lesser Poland. It is the capital and the center of Lublin Voivodeship with a population of 336,339 (December 2021). Lublin is the largest Polish city east of ...

region is represented by the Krzczonów folk costume * Biłgoraj File:Z lubeskie.jpg,

region File:Polish Dozynki Festival in Adelaide, Australia, 2007.jpg, Lublin File:Stroj bilgorajski damski.JPG, Biłgoraj File:Stroj bilgorajski meski.JPG, Biłgoraj

Silesia / Śląsk

Bytom Bytom (Polish pronunciation: ; Silesian: ''Bytōm, Bytōń'', german: Beuthen O.S.) is a city in Upper Silesia, in southern Poland. Located in the Silesian Voivodeship of Poland, the city is 7 km northwest of Katowice, the regional capital ...

/ Piekary Śląskie in Upper Silesia *

, 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,

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 speak ...

, Vilamovians

Pomerania / Pomorze, Kujawy, Warmia

* Kashubians 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. *

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 previou ...

* Warmia 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,

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 m ...

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 ...

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 import ...

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,

File:Kurps in Warsaw-22-Baclawscy.jpg, Kurpie File:43. TKB - Ziemia Myślenicka z Myślenic 09.JPG,

File:43. TKB - Chodowiacy z Chodowa 03.JPG, Central File:43. TKB - Kurpianka z Kadzidła 01.JPG, Green Forest

File:Dziewczeta kurpiowskie-A.Chetnik-scan.jpg, Green Forest Kurpie in 1913

Podlaskie / Podlasie

File:8. MFF Pražský jarmark 3790.jpg, Podlasie File:Picnic.3 Harvest Festival 2011, Mońki.JPG, Stare Lewkowo

Greater Poland / Wielkopolska

* Bambrzy * Szamotuly * Biskupianski File:Bamberki Boze Cialo2.jpg, Bambrzy 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 Kontusz ( Polish plural ''kontusze''; uk, кунтуш, Lithuanian: ''kontušas''; originally from Hungarian ''köntös''- "robe") - a type of outer garment worn by the Hungarian and Polish- Lithuanian male nobility. It became popular in ...

, 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 File:43. TKB - Beskid z Bielska-Białej 05.JPG, Żywiec File:Król Stanisław Leszczyński.JPG, King Stanisław I in a ''Cracovian'' costume

Burghers

''Mieszczanie'' were Polish burghers, among whom in 18th century czamaras gained a lot of popularity (especially in the

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

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Polish costume Polish culture Polish clothing Folk costumes