Hello all,
The Frisians are one of the minority peoples of Europe, Inhabiting the coast of the North Sea from the northern Netherlands to the southernmost tip of Denmark. The Frisian Language is linguistically the closest living language to English [except for Scots].
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frisians
There are over 500,000 people today who still speak Frisian, but Frisian, like many minority languages consists of several local dialects which are not mutually intelligible. They are generally grouped into West Frisian, in the Netherlands, East Frisian, which survives only in one small enclave in the Saterland, and North Frisian, which is spoken on the coast and the islands of southern Jutland, and also includes Heligoland. Other people in the area maintain a Frisian identity while having lost the language.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frisian_languages
Here is a closeup map of the North Frisian Islands.
The four main islands are Sylt [in German], or Söl [in Frisian]; Föhr or Feer, Amrum or Oomram, and Pellworm or Polweerm. Helgoland or deät Lun, is culturally and linguistically related to the North Frisian Islands, but is separated geographically, being found further out to sea. While Sylt and Helgoland each have their own distinct costumes, the rest of the islands and islets share basically the same costume, which started on Feer and Oomram and spread to the others. The islands of Rømø and Fanø each also have their own costumes, but are inhabited by Danes.
Here is a print by Albert Kretschmer showing three variants of this costume. This was published in 1887. In the center is a more everyday costume, on the right is the Sunday costume, and on the left is the Dress costume for special occasions; the last is the one most commonly seen today. The apron waistband is narrower today, otherwise, the costume is very similar.
When I searched for images online, there was some confusion as to which island the various images came from . I did find out from a video the difference between the costume of Foehr, just below, and the costume of Amrum, in the second image.
If you look at the semicircle of silver filigree buttons on the front, The Foehr costume has 12, while the Amrum costume has 8.
The image below shows a woman from Hallig Hooge, one of the 10 small islets in the area. Note that she has ten buttons.
Here is a video showing the Föhr costume being laid out by a woman who makes them.
The video is in German.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqptIM4_HGM
Here is a video from Amrum, showing the outer parts of the costume as worn today being put on. This is also in German.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYxkho1bJWs
The outfit as worn today only seems to go back a couple hundred years, and was heavily influenced by upper class costumes of Spain. The people of Frisia have always made their living as sea traders, sailors and fishermen. Even today the silver filigree jewelry is made in Portugal. Old drawings show a costume which is similar to that of Sylt. This costume is clearly that of an affluent society.
The base garment is a chemise, over which two petticoats likely are worn, one of red flannel, and one of white linen.
The skirt is black with a blue silk ribbon appliqued to the hem, full length and heavily gathered in back. It is connected to a bodice.
For everyday, it is likely that originally a linen overshirt was worn over the chemise and under the bodice/skirt.
Today this is no longer seen. This has been replaced by a jacket.
For going to market or Sunday dress, this may contrast with the skirt and bodice, the quality of the fabric being appropriate to the occasion. See also the print by Kretschmer above. This version below on the right is less commonly seen today.
For Sunday dress, the jacket is usually black. Two silver filigree buttons are pinned to each side of the bosom, and a shawl is wrapped around the shoulders or wrapped around the waist and tied in back.
Sometimes this shawl has embroidery on the point.
For the dressiest festive outfit, a semicircle of black cloth with large silver filigree buttons around the edge is pinned to the front.
A silk shawl is wrapped around the shoulders and gathered into place with many pins.
The shawl originally may have long silk fringes which the local women knotted themselves and then sewed to the bought shawl. Over the shawl is pinned a piece of jewelry that consists of three plates which are joined with chains, with other chains hanging below. There may be a religious medal hanging from the center, as in the image above, Or there may be three pendants as shown below; a cross, a heart and an anchor, the symbols of Faith, Charity, and Hope, respectively.
Today the fringes are often separate pieces, pinned onto the shawl. This woman looks like she has both kinds of fringe.
The apron is very long and full, and may be made of embroidered white linen, silk damask or brocade, or plain material with lace or ribbons sewn to it. If the apron is not of linen, it tends to be in a dark color.
The waistband wraps all the way around the waist, and is fastened at the rear with a brooch that matches the rest of the jewelry.
The 'ties' are wrapped around to the front center of the apron and secured with a pin, which allows the ends to hang freely.
Married women wear a red 'cap', which is embroidered with black beads and covers part of the hair under the shawl. Unusually, most of the hair remains uncovered.
Knit stockings and black leather shoes complete the ensemble, but these are rarely visible.
A few more images of this costume; This outfit has been much photographed.
Thank you for reading. I hope that you have found this to be interesting and informative.
Roman K
A video of the Amrum trachtengruppe explaining their costume, in German.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sW6F2uT07MA
A video of a dance group from Amrum
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoGKueVbtJI
A video of a dance group from Foehr.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISCQB6aqdvg&t=100s
A parade on the island of Foehr.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLqZhOGBjS8
Email: rkozakand@aol.com
