- Tsolia or Evzone
Costume that was worn by the soldiers (antartes) of 1821 who fought for Greeces's independence from the Turks. The evzone is still seen today in Athens guarding the tomp of the Unknown Soldier.
- Vlaha
Was worn by the Vlach women in the villages of Northern Greece. In the summer they would live up in the mountains with their flocks of ships and goats, and in the winter they would migrate down into the valleys.
- Amalia
Was worn by the first queen of Greece Queen Amalia (1833 - 1862). This became the adopted city wear of Athens.
- Cretan Costumes
These costumes are from the area of Anoyia in the region of Rethimno on the island of Crete. Crete, or Kriti, is the southernmost and largest island in Greece. The costumes you see are elaborately decorated because these were the bridal dresses and the grooms’ outfits. After the wedding, this is what the couple would wear on special occasions and on holidays. The everyday outfits were essentially the same but of lesser
quality and were not decorated. The women’s costumes consist of the “poukamisa” (underdress), the “vraka” (bloomers), the apron and the “sartza” in the back. There is also a vest which is elaborately embroidered in gold thread with motifs depicting sea-life such as fish and calamari. There is also a “zonari” (belt) and a “mantili” (scarf) on the head. The “vraka” was worn long, to the ankles, because during the Turkish occupation the Cretan women wanted to hide their legs from the eyes of the Turks. The “sartza” was originally a full skirt, but because it became bothersome while doing chores in their daily lives, they did
away with the skirt but left a colorful piece in the back to brighten the costume without getting in the way while working. Of interest in the men’s costume is the headpiece which is made of fisherman’s net with knots hanging from the edges, symbolizing the tears that Crete shed during the Turkish occupation.
- Thracian Costumes
These particular Thracian costumes come from western Thraki (Thrace) from the village of Ellinohori in the region of Evros. Thraki is located in northeastern Greece, bordering Turkey. These were also the wedding outfits for the bride and groom, as they are more elaborately decorated than the everyday wear. The costumes of this region are much heavier than the Cretan costumes because of the much colder climate of northern
Greece compared to the dry and warm climate in Crete. For this reason, the Thracian people didn’t pay attention to whether the clothes were stylish or elegant. They were more interested in practicality and bright colors to catch the eye. The women’s dress consists of the poukamisa, the woolen overdress, the woolen vest, the apron, and the brightly decorated scarf. A characteristic of the overdresses of this region are the two slits in the front of the bodice which the women used for
nursing their babies. This protected the mothers from the cold. In addition, they would decorate the back of the overdress with long, colorful ribbons. The menis vest is embroidered with the Byzantine two-headed eagle. They also would embroider motifs from their daily agricultural life, such as fruits, vegetables, or animals. These particular costumes are decorated with a brightly colored apple in the back.
Compiled by: Anna Stratis & Koula Fkiaras
Last updated on 01/21/01