Native Dress

Travel is such a broadening experience.  You learn so much, gain new perspective, and in our case, we grew in our admiration and respect of our native culture.  One of the many aspects of our growth was our understanding of the native costume or dress.    A large part of the Folk Museum display in Trondheim was a study of the native dress.  In Bergen, under the tutelage of Inger Helene, we saw the development of a native dress in action.

Maria, sitting next to Barb in blue shirt.

This next year, Maria, Inger Helene and Haakon's granddaughter, will complete Confirmation.  This Lutheran tradition has taken many a turn in Norway and now, although it appears that most youngsters do go through a "confirmation" process in Norway, many youngsters do not connect this process with the Lutheran faith or any Christian faith at all.  It can sometimes be a rite of passage with no religious connection.  In the Laegdene family, however, it is very traditional Lutheran.

Inger Helene is in the process of making Maria's dress.  Maria has chosen the Lillehammer style, the home area of her father Bjorn.  The dress has huge cultural significance in that the dress will be created to serve the young adult now in Confirmation, she will get married in it as she gets to that stage, then she will continue to wear it at family events and national holidays (Heidi wore her dress to Kari's wedding).  The dresses are ornate and hand made in such a way that they can be modified as the young adult "matures".

 

 

Very precise and ornate stitchery and needlepoint.

Barb is enthralled with the process.

Pictures from a book of the Lillehammer style.

 

While we were shopping in downtown Bergen the day before we left, Barb and I walked into a store to look at and price a native dress in Bergen style.  There were many beautiful dresses but Barb decided not to buy one as she questioned whether she would take the opportunity to wear it, and she would rather have her kitchen remodeled.  In other words, she thought they were too expensive for her limited use of the dress.  So, I guess, appreciation of one's culture does have it limits, price wise at least.