National Chechen costume: male, female, wedding. Traditions of the Chechen people

The traditions of the Chechen people are peculiar and very interesting. Culture is very original and unique, rooted in the deep past. Customs, the principles of life - all this manifests itself in national clothes, which have survived to this day almost in their original form.

An old male Chechen costume

National Chechen costume always Had two components: tapered down trousers and half-kaftan (beshmet). Clothes were sewn from materials that did not constrain movements. The semi-caftan tightly clasped the torso and fastened on the buttons in the form of woven knots that were made of laces. The length of the beshmet was 10 cm above the knees. The sleeves of the half-kaftan shrunken to the ends, and the cuffs adorned with buttons in the form of nodules.

Below the waist, the beshmet expanded. Above was a burka. It is a cloak with narrowed shoulders and widening downwards. Burka protected from rain, heat and wind. And at night it was perfectly used as a blanket.

Additions to the traditional male costume

Traditional male costume was always supplemented with a headdress and shoes. By tradition, ordinary Chechens wore a cone-shaped hat on their heads, which was made of sheepskin. And for the rich, the headgear was sewn from the skin of a Bukharian ram. In summer all Chechens wore felt hats.

Legs were trained in light leather boots, long to the knee. The trousers were tucked inside. Rich Chechens wore chuvjaki. These are soft men's shoes that do not have heels. On top of the pants stretched leggings. This is a specific kind of shoe that covers the shins without feet. The nails tied at the top with straps.

Festive men's suit

Celebratory Chechen costumes included a Circassian coat. Clothes were sewed from cotton dense fabric, and for rich people - from satin, silk, wool. Since the bottom shirts were not all men, the beshmet were worn on the naked body. Later, holiday costumes underwent a change.

Already from the end of the 19th century, when multi-charged rifles appeared, the gas tanks (pockets) lost their purpose. And now it's only part of the costume. In other respects, the festive beshmet was no different from the old one.

Circassian

The old festive beshmet included the Circassian coat, which was worn over the caftan. The tail was the same. Circassian wool made from the best cloth, without a collar and fastened at the waist. The sleeves were longer than the wrists, so they bent. On the front of the Circassian there were small pockets (gazrynitsy).

They put wooden tubules in which gun cases for firearms were kept. Circassian worn only buttoned and girded with a decorated belt with a narrow belt. He was hanged by a weapon (dagger, saber, pistol).

Female Chechen costume

Chechen women wore more colorful clothes than men. Dresses were a variety of models, colors and were sewed from different materials. By the way, it was possible to determine the social status and age of a woman. The traditional outfit consisted of four elements:

• Lower and upper dresses (in the form of a tunic);
• belt;
• Handkerchief.

The length of the tunic reached the ankle. The dress was made of a plain lightweight material. The tunics of the tunic were straight and long, covering the brushes. A small incision was made on the chest of the dress. The collar was standing, small and buttoned. The tunic was worn over the wide trousers gathered at the bottom of the frill. The outfit was supplemented with a headdress.

In the national Chechen costume in former times included a short caftan. Sometimes with a standing collar. Kaftanchik tightly pulled the figure. The garment was made of velvet, heavy silk or cloth. But over time, he disappeared from everyday life and left only a breastplate.

He was sewn on the bottom tunic. This was an ornament that was made to order. The breastplates were made of silver, sometimes covered with gold. Decorated with colored stones. Over time, the breastplates became clasps on the lower dress. Belt was most often made to order, from silver. And it was a very valuable detail of the costume. The silver belt could be covered with gold, decorated with stones and different engraving.

Chechen women wore a second, upper dress (swing), which resembled a cloak or robe. It was worn on top of the bottom tunic. Up to the waist it was uncovered so that the breastplates could be seen. At the waist, the upper dress was fastened with small hooks. As a result, the female figure was stretched and emphasized. The top dress was made of brocade, velvet, satin or cloth. A variety of styles, materials and colors was allowed. The upper dress was decorated with braid, embroideries of gold, folds and frills.

The national Chechen costume was supplemented with shoes. She was made of soft morocco. On the sole was a seam. Under the shoes were worn morocco socks. The second option - shoes on a low heel. This footwear had a firm sole, but was without backs.

Women's festive costume

Festive women's suits were sewn, as well as everyday. But with minor changes. For example, the bottom of the pants was covered with silk. The sleeves were much longer and even reached the floor.

Wedding dress for women

Chechen wedding dresses did not open unnecessary, never sewed with frank cutouts. The dress consisted of a lower shirt with a mandatory stand-up collar. The top dress was put on top, but not magnificent. But richly embroidered and with decorations.

Chechen wedding dresses had an inseparable detail - a cut from the front. Thanks to him, the impression was created that the dress looks like two petals. The dress was complemented by a chic silver belt. The head was put on a luxurious shawl decorated with laces.

Changes in Chechen costumes

Women's traditional clothes have not changed. But the traditional national Chechen costume has undergone some changes in modern times. In the 20th century a winter coat appeared, which began to replace burka. The coat became double-breasted, with a hem below the knees and a standing collar. It is fastened with buttons made of belts and threaded into cord loops.

Got a wide distribution trousers-riding breeches. And soon began to be considered a national attribute of the costume. In the 1920s, the beshmet began to be replaced by Caucasian shirts - long and straight. With wide, beveled at the wrists sleeves, with fasteners on the buttons.

Interesting facts about the traditions of the Chechen people

Male Chechen clothes were mostly made of dark colors. White was a sign of wealth. Only the beshmet stood out as a bright spot, as their color represented a contrast with the rest of the costume. But to touch the fur hat meant a deadly insult to the owner of the headdress.

Men of old age wore warmed and longer beshmet. Some were quilted, on a thin layer of wool or wool. The traditional outfit was also a day off and home clothes. In the Cossack troops, the caftans had the form status.

According to the tradition of the Chechen people, women in the cold season could not wear warm clothes. It was only allowed to throw a handkerchief on your shoulders or wear a second dress. Women could go out in the street only in the headdress. The handkerchief was a symbol of chastity, social power and a guarantor of sacred purity.

Jewelery emphasized the belonging to a certain class. Young women and girls wore long scarves and scarves. And the elderly at first put on chuhtu (pouch), in which the hair was removed. And then they threw a large handkerchief, decorated with a fringe, on top.

The most beautiful belts were family jewels and were passed on by generations. They were given to girls by mothers before the wedding. Upper dresses were worn only by young people. For adult (married) women, it was considered too bright, and they could only wear it on solemn occasions.

If the family was under persecution of blood feud, then the clothes were worn black. And the standing collar of a woman's wedding dress symbolized modesty and was an obligatory attribute.