Overview of the Folk Costumes of North Epirus, Albania

 

Hello all, 

Today I will continue my series on the costumes of North Epirus with an overview of the area. I have written dedicated articles about the costumes of Dropoli / Dropull and Pogoni / Pogon, but I do not have sufficient information about the rest of this region to do more individual articles. Dropoli and Pogoni are basically completely inhabited by Greeks, but the rest of this region is much more ethnically mixed, with Greeks, Albanians and Vlachs all being found to various degrees. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greeks_in_Albania

I will be focusing on those areas with a significant Greek Presence, but many of these costumes are also worn by Tosk or Lab Albanians. I will proceed from West to East. For aomw of these regions, I have found little information. 

Vlorë County

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vlor%C3%AB_County

Χειμάρρα, Himara, Himarë

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himar%C3%AB

This town with some surrounding villages forms an ethnically Greek island surrounded by Albanians. It is found on the coast some 50 km north of Sarandë. The nearby villages of Dhërmi, Palasa, and Qeparo are inhabited fully or  partially by Greeks as well.  

This region is also famous for polyphonic singing. 

https://www.facebook.com/reel/305185569200327

Δέλβινο, Delvino - Delvinë

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delvin%C3%AB

This town has a substantial Greek minority. For this, and many of the following regions, there seems to be no difference between the Greek and Albanian folk costumes. 

Φοινίκη, Foiniki  -  Finiq

This municipality has a majority Greek population. The name is also Greek. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finiq

Μεσοπόταμος, Mesopotamos  -  Mesopotam

This region obviously has a Greek name, and a significant Greek Population. It lies a few km east of Foiniki. 

Δίβρη, Dibri or Divri  - Dhivër 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhiv%C3%ABr

Gjirokastër County

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gjirokast%C3%ABr_County

Δρόπολη, Dropoli  -  Dropull

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dropull

 This is a majority Greek region. I have already done an in depth article on this region. 

https://folkcostume.blogspot.com/2024/09/folk-costume-and-embroidery-of-dropoli.html

Google is mistaken about the extent of this region, in fact, it extends south to the Greek border.

Πωγώνι, Pogoni  -  Pogon 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pogon,_Albania

This region is split by the border, there being about 45 villages on the Greek side, plus 7 on the Albanian side that are inhabited by Greeks. I have also done an in depth article on this region. 

https://folkcostume.blogspot.com/2024/09/folk-costume-of-pogoni-epirus-greece.html

Αργυρόκαστρο, Argyrókastro  -  Gjirokastër

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gjirokast%C3%ABr

This is an urban center. This area was contested between Greece and Albania for some time. The majority population today is Albanian, but there is a substantial Greek minority, and a sizeable population of Vlachs as well. The costume is of the urban Ottoman type, and seems to be worn by all. 

Note that the white cap is a symbol of an Albanian man. It would not have been worn by Greeks or Vlachs. 

Λιούντζη, Liountsouria  -  Lunxhëri 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunxh%C3%ABria

This region is predominantly Albanian, but has Greek and Vlach minorities. The folk costume is exceptionally rich, reflecting the fact that the men of the region traditionally spent much time abroad in foreign trade. The image at the head of the article is of this costume. Again, the costume seems to be worn by both Greeks and Albanians. 

Ζαγόρια, Zagori  - Zagori and Ρίζα, Riza  -  Rreza

These two regions lie next to Liountsouria - Lunxhëri, Zagori to the east, and Rreza to the north. I have been unable to find much information about this area. Wikipedia states that Zagori is mostly Albanian, with some Vlachs. However, it has no information on Riza - Rreza. Google maps show Greek Orthodox Churches in the Riza - Rreza area, however, as well as in the village of Zhej in Zagori. This Zagori is not to be confused with the region of Zagori in Greece. 

Zagori

These two images are from the village of Zhej in Zagori.

These images are from Riza - Rreza. 

Korçë County

Δάρδα, Darda  -  Dardhë

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dardh%C3%AB

Wikipedia states that this village is inhabited by Albanians only, but also talks about a Greek School which was found in the village. Greeks feature this costume in their books. 

Thank you for reading. I hope that you have found this to  be interesting and informative. I am sure that there is more information about this area that I have not found. 

Roman K.

email: rkozakand@aol.com

Source Material:

Angeliki Hatzimichali, 'The Greek Folk Costume vol 1', Athens, 1979

Dr. Gjergji Andromaqi et al, 'Albanian Folk Costumes vol 1', Tirane, 1999

J. C. Mazarakis Aenian et al, 'Greek Costumes', Athens, 1993

Athanasios Khouliaras, 'Paradosiakes Foresies Voreirou Ipeirou', Athens 2022

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