Folk Romania is the traditional Romanian art shop. You can learn here about the ancient traditions of the Romanian people. You can also see photos from Romania and send greetings. Our shop contains Romanian pottery, ceramic objects, masks, icons, movies, books, albums, textiles, folk Romanian costumes and dolls.
On Folk Romania you can learn all about the old Romanian traditions, about the old architecture, the cooking recipes, the life and customs of the Romanian people. The gallery has images and photos from various regions of Romania, from mountains and sea. You can also send greetings. You can virtually travel to Transylvania, Moldavia or Walachia and find information about Romania and Romanian people and Romanian history. Dracula, the Transylvania prince, is also present on Folk Romania.
You can buy gifts for the loved ones. They will love the Romanian masks, pottery, dolls, movies, books, textiles, albums, cd, landscapes and photos.
On Folk Romania forum you can meet the Romanians from the entire world and talk about Romania and its people.
Gaseste cele mai potrivite cadouri pentru cei dragi! Trimite felicitari virtuale cu imagini din Romania! Redescopera obiceiurile si traditiile milenare ale poporului roman! Folk Romania este un site despre Romania traditionala, cu oamenii, locurile, obiceiurile si mestesugurile ei.
Magazinul virtual de pe Folk Romania cuprinde obiecte de ceramica, masti traditionale, papusi, icoane, testaturi, costume populare, carti si albume.
Afla cat mai multe despre adevaratele traditii ale romanilor, despre arhitectura populara, alimentele, viata si obiceiurile poporului roman.
In galerie sunt cuprinse fotografii si imagini din diverse zone ale Romaniei, atat de la munte, cat si de la mare. Poti sa calatoresti in mod virtual prin Transilvania, Moldova sau Valahia si sa afli informatii despre Romania, poporul roman si istoria Romaniei.
Aici poti sa cumperi cadouri pentru cei dragi. Vor indragi mastile, ceramica, icoanele, papusile, tesaturile, costumele, cartile, cd, albumele, fotografiile si peisajele romanesti.
Pe forumul Folk Romania poti sa intalnesti romani din toate colturile lumii si sa discutati despre Romania si oamenii sai.
The garments are first meant to protect the human body against the weather. For this reason, the clothing is adapted to the seasons. In the winter it is thicker (fur and wool clothes) and it is thinner in the summer (especially hempen clothes).
Garments have also a decorative purpose and a social meaning. They distinguish the peasant who wears them from the others. For example, the wedding dress of the maidens was a proof that the girls knew to sew and weave, which was a very important condition for marriage. Some garments could also indicate an occupation (the long leather cloak of the shepherds, worn on the shoulders, with the fur on the outside; their hood; the “chimir”, a large belt worn by those who worked in the wood) or the social status (only married women worn kerchiefs).
The garments also indicate the age of the people. The youth is characterized by color and brightness. As the years go by, the peasant gives up the ornaments and wears more discrete clothes.
Some garments have a ceremonial role. They are only made on specific occasions. The bride, helped by the girls from the village, was supposed to make the groom’s shirt in a single night. The “plague shirt” also had to be worked entirely in a single night. These clothes are only worn on special moments. At a wedding, the most beautiful decorated costume is worn (many times it is especially made for this occasion). In Transylvania there are places where both bride and groom wear wool clothes, no matter the season. The most characteristic element for the wedding is the bride’s head dress, worn only on that occasion.
At the funeral, the deceased is dressed with the wedding clothes, which are especially kept for this purpose.
Man’s Costume
Excepting the hot summer months, men always wear a fur cap. They are even buried wearing it. There are two major kinds of fur caps: a long pointed one and a shorter, flat-bottomed one. Felt hats were only introduced later, when town influences began to be found in the villages.
The shirt is large enough and it stretches almost to the knees (especially in the southern regions). Sometimes it is worn over the pants and it can have a short skirt and a girdle in the lower part.
The pants are called “itari” or “cioareci”. They are narrow and are made of linen or hemp in the summer and of thick cloth in the winter. In Moldavia the pants are longer then the legs and are rippled in the lower part. In Oltenia they are also long, having a normal looseness. In Maramures region the pants are called “gaci”. They are very large and stretch only to the knees.
Women’s Costume
Women wear various head dresses. The “marame” are known for their special beauty and fineness. They are made of raw silk and are beautifully decorated.
Because of its decorations and colors, the women’s shirts (also known as “ie”) are the most important garment. Excepting the ones from Maramures region, they are always tight on the neck.
In the lower part of the body, women wear a piece of clothing which has different names and features for each Romanian region. In Moldavia and parts of Walachia, this is represented by a large rectangular cloth that surrounds the body and it is called “fota”. A rectangular piece of clothing, composed of two parts worn in the front and back, similar to an apron is also found in Transylvania, Walachia and south-eastern Moldavia (it is called “catrinta”). In Banat this is composed only of a single fringed short part, worn in the front (“opreg”).
The main decorations of women’s costume are placed around the neck, on the shoulders (this decoration is called “altita”), on the sleeves, on the chest and in the lower part of the garments. The motifs are mainly geometrical.
In the winter, both women and men wear sheepskin coats, with or without sleeves, which either cover the entire body, either the upper part.
The footwear is formed of “opinci” and the foot is surrounded by “obiele” (woolen straps which provide protection).
Manufacturing
The raw materials are the wool, linen, hemp and cotton.
The background color is usually white, following an ancient Dacian tradition.
The linen, hempen, woolen and cotton garments were made by women, in the house. The ones made of animal skins were worked by skilled craftsmen, using the raw materials provided by the main occupations – agriculture and breeding.
Decorations
The old motifs were usually geometrical, but men, birds or horses could also be found.
Beginning with the 19th century, the vegetal motifs became predominant. They can be found especially on the shirts.
Initially, the garment decorations had magic and religious meaning and their purpose was to protect the wearer of the evil beings, but they were also meant to bring luck and health. Some metallic pieces are still holding their initial significance. For example, before giving birth, the women wear a necklace with miniature tools that is meant to bring luck to the baby and make the birth easier.
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