Everything you need to know about Bunad, traditional costume in Norway!<

Qu’est-ce qu’un bunad ? Le bunad est le costume traditionnel en Norvège. Il est différent selon la région et symbolise l’identité nationale et culturelle du pays. Les norvégiens le portent pour les grands évènements. A l’approche de la fête nationale, le 17 mai, les norvégiens seront encore très nombreux à arborer fièrement leur bunad.

A tradition not so old

Bunad as we know it today only appeared in the middle of the 19th century.It is an extension of the folk costume used especially in the Norwegian countryside and which sometimes dates from the Middle Ages.

Norway attributes modern Bunad to Hulda Garborg, Norwegian writer and dancer (1862-1934).Versatile writer and cultural figure, she published novels, plays and poems.She wrote books on traditional songs and dance (Norwegian Dance Vision 1913).It has traveled Norway to participate in conferences and promote Norwegian culture and in particular the port of Bunad.In 1903, she published a book on Norwegian Bunads: Norwegian Cloth Bunad.

On retrouve des costumes originaux dans les musées dont le musée folklorique norvégien – Norsk Folkemuseum – qui se situe sur la péninsule de Bygdøy à Oslo.If you visit this outdoor museum, which presents 155 traditional houses from the different regions of Norway, you will meet the staff dressed in their Bunad.

Selon Marit Jacobsen, Directrice chez Husflid, l’utilisation du Bunad a vraiment décollé dans les années 1990.The Lillehammer Olympic Games in 1994 have greatly contributed to making it very popular.

National Day, May 17

Bunad is above all a party clothing.It is traditionally worn for baptisms, communions, confirmations, Christmas, weddings, discounts of diplomas, official receptions and for the Norwegian national holiday, May 17.He has an important role in the life of Norwegians.

The day of the Norwegian Constitution is probably the best time to admire traditional Norwegian costumes.Originally, women wore bunad more than men but times have changed and traditional costume also becomes the apparatus of men.The children also carry their Bunad during the school parade for the national holiday although it is canceled this year because of the COVVI-19.

With the pandemic, it is a safe bet that the wearing of Bunad will have great importance on this day of celebration. Les norvégiens pourront se montrer aux balcons ou dans la rue en gardant la distanciation sociale et chanter fièrement tous en cœur l’hymne national norvégien à 13 h 00 le 17 mai.

Show me your Bunad and I will tell you where you come from

In Norway, each Bunad belongs to a region.So we might think that it is not difficult by seeing a Bunad to know which region you come from.But it's not that simple, some say that there would be about 400 different bunades!

Each region has a bunad with its particularities.The traditional costume is made from natural materials such as linen or cotton for blouse, silk for scarf and wool for skirts, vests, pants and jackets.The embroidery is bright colors and represent flower patterns.Costumes are worn with jewelry often in silver.In some regions, crowns and belts are added to the outfit.Makeup and hairstyle are just as important as costume.

Les Éditions « Damm & Søn » ont sorti une encyclopédie en trois volumes entièrement consacrée au bunad : « Norsk bunadleksikon« .It is no less than 1,100 pages that bring together and synthesize all the details of making Bunad, and this in the smallest nuances of regional costumes and samis.

Here is a very small tour of regional bunades:

Oslo Bunad

The Telemark Bunad

Nordland Bunad

Le Bunad du Troms and Finmark

The Svalbard Bunad

Pour découvrir les bunads des différentes régions de Norvège, nous vous invitons à découvrir le site Husfliden.

What is the cost of a Bunad?

A bunad is a unique and expensive garment.This traditional costume requires a lot of manual work and know-how.It takes time, and time, as everyone knows, it's money!Some Norwegians inherit their parents or grandparents from the Bunad, which further increases its value. Il faut compter entre 2 000 et 5 000 euros selon la qualité, s’il a été fait sur mesure ou acheté dans les boutiques en ligne comme Norske Bunader. Pour un bunad» pas trop cher « , vous pourrez en trouver par exemple dans le magasin H&M à Oslo.