[franksolich]

News from the clothier-front of Norway, our allies in the War against Terror; I always wondered what those short red jackets Norwegian men wear, were called.

[Mamzelle]

I'm fond of costuming history. Pictures, please.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

No pictures?

[Hodar]

I didn't know what a bunad was.

[anniegetyourgun]

[billorites]

Well, what man doesn't have the occassional impulse to feel well dressed and pretty?

[Grut]

I have a picture (1880s) of my maternal great-grandfather dressed in a rather magnificent uniform; he was either an Admiral in the Norwegian Navy or a fairly senior postal clerk, I'm not sure which.

[franksolich]

"Ping" for the Norway ping list.

Since there are no DUmmie FUnnies tonight, I thought perhaps some might wish something to read.

I checked e-Bay last night, under "Norway;" apparently there is quite a market for Norwegian things, but because the world has so few Norwegians, there are few Norwegian products.

I was surprised at the going rates for Norwegian postage stamps and coins, which at first glance seemed rather high--but then one has to remember the scarcity of the items.

I was never into military items, but it seems those (from the Norwegian armed forces, current and historical) were getting high bids, again perhaps because of their sheer scarcity.

Apparently "Dale" and "Swix" are the leading brands for knitted wear from Norway; they also have a lot of silver, porcelain, and china made there.

A small packet of Lofoten fish soup (dry; one adds water) was fetching--and getting--$5 per.

Norwegian skis however are cheap; cheaper than here.

[AnAmericanMother]

The bunad appears to have a lot of district variations, just like the traditional regional costumes in Germany.

Here's a website with a pulldown menu for the costumes of each district.

Some of them look quite charming.

[Purrcival]

In terms of U.S. dollars, those bunads cost as much as a designer dress! How can the average Norwegian afford them?

[stuck_in_new_orleans]

WW1 and WW2 really....REALLY messed up these people more than we wil ever know

[smonk]

[LibWhacker]

[AnAmericanMother]

Here's a picture of the old German "trachten" (traditional dress) - from the Donauesching region. (They're bringing home the married couple on the "Bride-wagon".)

Some of the ladies' dress is unbelieveable - incredibly elaborate headdresses - don't sneeze!

[Marysecretary]

My cousin's wife makes bunad dresses. They are so beautiful. I have a number of the beautiful pins that are worn with them. Solje? I don't quite remember the name. My aunt Ose made each of us knitted Norwegian sweaters when my children were young. I love the costumes and hats. A local episcopal church used to have the Norwegian Tea and the servers wore the hats and aprons. We have many Norwegian families here, and it was wonderful growing up around them. Such nice cookies! They had good parties. M