Cossack clothes. Clothes of Don and Kuban Cossacks. What did the Cossack and Cossack clothes look like?

The history of the costume goes back many centuries. How many modifications have learned pieces of cloth, bones, skin! And the functions of clothing changed over time: at first it was protection from adverse weather conditions, then - an indicator of the position of a person in society ... And covered nakedness in different countries in different ways.

Yes there are countries! Each area has characteristic features in clothing. It depends on various factors: geographic location, neighbors, main industry, lifestyle ... For example, Indian sari or Japanese kimono can not be confused with anything. The loincloths of Bushmen, Boers and other African tribes are also unique . Interesting is the clothing of the Indians, and the Dirdles of the Germans, and the clues of the Dutch. But Zaporozhye Cossacks are hard to not recognize by red trousers and embroidered. Attention should also be paid to accessories that can tell a lot about the owner, for example, the presence of war paint, coral beads, a lot of bracelets or a wig. And in every suit, the history of the country or region was displayed.

The clothes of Cossacks - Don or Kuban - are also of interest, just as we are interested in their history, way of life, customs. Let's get acquainted with the costume of the Cossacks, which you will meet now except in the movies.

Don life

A lot is known about the life of this stratum of the population. And everyone knows the epic Sholokhov's "Quiet Flows the Don," which describes the life of these people. The historian, and the man in the street are interested in traditions and customs. All the little things make up a picture of the life of the Cossacks, about which we watch films and read books. Don Cossacks firmly believed in the forces of nature, and therefore often performed a variety of rituals, conspiracies. Of course, this involved mainly women. Divination predetermined destiny, and therefore to resist the decision of the boot, tape, roar, barking, ram was useless. The house of the Cossacks combined everything necessary for life in itself and was protected, according to legend, by a special force, enclosed in the image of a house-guard. The respect of parents for the Cossacks is sacred. They also honored their military duty. It is no accident that the Cossack today is a praise, a comparison with a real man, a warrior.

The uniform of the Cossacks of Don

Things for Cossacks are not just pieces of cloth tailored in a special way. This is an expression of their independence and identity. About how the Cossacks looked, you can learn from folklore - the songs have always accurately reflected the way of life. So, how did the clothes of the Cossacks look like? Before finding their own style, the Cossacks were full of trophy trousers, jackets, shirts, headdresses, accessories. But then the features of life began to reflect more on the suit.

Everyone knows the name of the clothes of the Cossacks, or rather, the most colorful element of it. These are trousers. They were made from different types of fabric for different ranks and seasons. Blue pants were worn on weekdays. To go to the church or on a holiday, only scarlet ones were meant. In general, the color was different, depending on age.

Wide trousers were extremely convenient for participation in combat operations and in general riding on horseback. The Cossack was girded with a thin pistol-an imperceptible strap that, in addition, supported the purse as well. If the pants were considered both top and bottom, then the shirt was different. It was made of a light canvas. On the neck collar it was decorated with embroidery. The red ribbon was encircled by a hem. A belt of wool was tied at the waist. The shirt was not tucked. There were also lower shirts, which, however, were also decorated with embroidery. The clothes of the Don Cossacks would have lost themselves without a beshmet. Now this element of clothing would be called a jacket, a caftan, a tunic ... He was put on a shirt and was worn at home and in public. It differed in its variety of shapes (long and short floors) and colors: blue, green, gray, white, black, brown, yellow ... Like any other piece of clothing, the beshmet girded. On the belt hung jewelry, clinging to weapons. Children were treated with a shirt and trousers. When the boy grew up and went to learn craft or martial art, his clothes were more like trousers, shirt and beshmet brothers, father.

What did the Cossacks wear? Cossack and Cossack clothes

My wife protected the house. The clothes of the Cossacks were more diverse than the things that their husbands and sons wore. The main thing was a dress - a cube. He could afford and poor, and rich women, however, dresses differed in fabric. Under this dress-jacket, they wore shirts that peeped out from under the front and from under the magnificent sleeves.

You could wear a wide skirt - warm or light - with a jacket or shirt under your throat. However, such an attire could only be afforded by older daughters who reached the age of fifteen. The girls also walked in linen long shirts and sarafans. The clothes of the male Cossacks were more severe, the clothes of the Cossacks were full of all sorts of embroideries, stones, fur and lace inserts. For example, women's beshmet almost did not differ from men's, the only thing - he was more feminine, elegant, brighter. The main task of the Cossacks was to work at home, keep the economy, educate children on conscience. The wife should also be in everything submissive to her husband, and he, in turn, brought her gifts from distant countries, because in the early outfits traced features of the eastern costume.

Marks of Excellence

Cossacks wore stripes. This element of sharovar was regarded as an awareness of its belonging to the free kingdom. Cossacks, as you know, are a freedom-loving, proud, independent people. And this manifested itself even in clothes. That's the lamp was a matter of pride, which, however, tried to ban and even shot for wearing this sign of distinction. Nevertheless, the Cossacks stood firm and did not give up.

Life in the Kuban

If the Don Cossacks seemed to us to be harsh, then with the Kuban case it was the other way around. Everybody knows the Kuban Cossack Choir. The Kuban Cossacks gravitated mainly to agriculture. They were dear to the home, their own home, family. Chants and memories of various events, so photos in traditional houses are not uncommon. In general, like all Cossacks, the Kuban division of labor was observed between a man and a woman, which was noticeable in a large family. Since childhood, boys have been taught to love and defend their native land, and girls - to study home. Honored Cossacks and the day when all work was banned - Sunday. Then, friends and acquaintances could meet in church and on a get-together, discuss the situation in the country, solve problems, and the youth entertained with dances, songs, games, looked at each other.

Good Cossack!

The clothes of the Kuban Cossacks are similar to the clothes of the Don Cossacks. However, it took more features from the Caucasian outfits, with the carriers of which the Cossacks lived next door and most of the time - in the world. The traditional outer clothing was considered Circassian - like beshmet. At the front, it was fastened on hooks, as richly as possible decorated with silver. The shirt was the basis of the underwear, could be worn out and run. Striking a variety of boots. Traditional clothes turned out to be unsuitable on the battlefield, so the Cossacks were given an ordinary military uniform. On parades, they were allowed to put on a folk costume.

The keeper of the hearth

Kuban Cossacks wore embroidered shirts with a round neckline and obligatory embroidery. The skirts were multilayered. They were also supplemented with an apron. Lacquer boots were the dream of any Cossack woman. After marriage, women must wear a hat, the appearance in public without which was considered a disgrace.

Suit today

The clothes of the Cossacks, as well as any other national clothes, were assimilated. European currents have penetrated into it. Now very few people go to Cossack clothes - except at festivals. But the clothes of Don and Kuban Cossacks remain interesting and do not lose charm, originality, spirit of independence. Cossacks still exist today. They still honor the traditions and on holidays wear a traditional uniform.