Greek Foustanelles. Left, the Foustanella (Tsolias) which prevailed in the urban centres of Moreas (Peloponnese) and Roumeli (Central Greece). Right, the Makedonomahi, which is from Macedonia, the northernmost region of Greece.

Fustanella (for spelling in various languages, see chart below) is a skirt-like garment worn by men in the Balkans until the 19th century and is frequently identified with the elite Greek ceremonial unit of Presidential Guard, the Evzones. The Fustanella is also common among Albanian folk dancers and mountain warriors. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 702 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (888 × 758 pixel, file size: 49 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Greek Foustanelles - (right) - the Makedonomahi, which is from Macedonia, the northern most region of Greece. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 702 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (888 × 758 pixel, file size: 49 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Greek Foustanelles - (right) - the Makedonomahi, which is from Macedonia, the northern most region of Greece. ... The Peloponnese or Peloponnesus (Greek: Πελοπόννησος Peloponnesos; see also List of traditional Greek place names) is a large peninsula in southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth. ... A skirt is a traditionally feminine tube- or cone-shaped garment which is worn from the waist and covers the legs. ... Greek Evzone soldiers marching in formation Evzones changing the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Greek Evzones changing guards at the tomb of the unknown soldier Evzones in Athens gaurding the grave of the Unknown Soldier. ...

Etymology

The word derives from Italian fustagno 'fustian' + -ella (diminutive), the fabric from which the earliest kilts were made. This in turn derives from Medieval Latin fūstāneum, perhaps a diminutive form of fustis, "wooden baton". Other authors consider this a calque of Greek xylino lit. 'wooden' i.e. 'cotton'^[1]; others speculate that it is derived from Fostat, a suburb of Cairo where cloth was manufactured.^[2] Fustian is a term for a variety of heavy woven cotton fabrics, chiefly prepared for menswear. ... Medieval Latin refers to the Latin used in the Middle Ages, primarily as a medium of scholarly exchange and as the liturgical language of the medieval Roman Catholic Church. ... A diminutive is a formation of a word used to convey a slight degree of the root meaning, smallness of the object named, encapsulation, intimacy, or endearment. ... // In linguistics, a calque (pronounced ) or loan translation is a word or phrase borrowed from another language by literal, word-for-word (Latin: verbum pro verbo) or root-for-root translation. ... Fostat (also spelled Fustat; Arabic: ) was the first capital city of Egypt under Arab rule. ... Nickname: Egypt: Site of Cairo (top center) Coordinates: Government  - Governor Dr. Abdul Azim Wazir Area  - City 214 km²  (82. ...

Early history

Although the origins of the modern Fustanella are unclear, nonetheless there are numerous theories. It is thought by some that the modern fustanella originated in the Ottoman vilayet of Yanya. This vilayet comprised much of the region of Epirus (today divided between Albania (Northern Epirus) and Greece (Epirus (periphery))) and was inhabited by a variety of populations, including Greeks, Aromanians, Albanians, Bulgarians and Turks. The use of the garment was probably spread by klephtic bands via Epirus into the rest of Greece during the 18th and 19th centuries. Similar garments exist as part of the folk costume as far north as Romania and as far east as Syria, with nationalists on every side claiming the garment to be an indigenous creation. Similarities to historical garments in literature and on art objects make these claims difficult to prove or disprove. In mathematics, theory is used informally to refer to a body of knowledge about mathematics. ... Motto دولت ابد مدت Devlet-i Ebed-müddet (The Eternal State) Anthem Ottoman imperial anthem Borders in 1680, see: list of territories Capital Söğüt (1299–1326) Bursa (1326–65) Edirne (1365–1453) Constantinople (Ä°stanbul, 1453–1922) Language(s) Ottoman Turkish (official); spoken languages include Abkhazian, Adyghe, Albanian, Arabic, Aramaic, Armenian, Azerbaijani... Ottoman Empire, 1481-1683 The Ottoman Empire existed from 1299 to 1922 and, at the height of its power in the 16th century, it included nearly 20 million km² in Anatolia (Asia Minor), the Middle East, parts of North Africa, and much of south-eastern Europe, and the Caucasus. ... Ioannina (Greek: Ιωάννινα, often Γιάννενα /yanena/ or Γιάννινα /yanina/; anglicized to Yanina, see also: other names of Ioannina) is a city of Epirus, north-western Greece, with a metropolitan population of approximately 100,000. ... Epirus (Greek Ήπειρος, Ípiros) is a geographical and historical region of the Balkan peninsula in south-eastern Europe. ... The flag of the Provisional Government of Northern Epirus in 1914. ... Epirus (Greek: Ήπειρος, Ípiros), is a periphery in northwestern Greece. ... Aromanians (also called: Arumanians or Macedo-Romanians; in Aromanian they call themselves Armãnji, Rrãmãnji) are a people living throughout the southern Balkans, especially in northern Greece, Albania, the Republic of Macedonia and Bulgaria, and as an emigrant community in Romania (Dobruja). ... Klephts (Greek κλέφτης, pl. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ...

One claim of an ancient link to the modern Fustanella involves an ancient statue dated from the 3rd century BCE in Kerameikon (a part of Athens to the northwest of the Acropolis), shown here: [1]. Another claim involves a small figure from the 5th century BCE in Slovenia, evidenced here. Another one was found in the outskirts of the Ancient Greek city of Epidamnus (modern Durrës, Albania): [2]. Yet another claim involves the statue carved in a niche in the Cave of Archedemos the Nympholept [3][4], near Mount Hymettus in Athens, which statue wears a fustanella-like garment and has been dated to c. 500 BCE. Archedemos, although living in Athens, came from the Spartan colony of Thera. This is why he carved himself wearing the dorian tunic. The Dorian tunic was also a garment of Kouretes[5]. Grave shrine from the Kerameikos - Aristonautes as warrior - ca. ... The Greek city of Epidamnos (Strabo Geography vi. ... Hymettus, also Hymettos (Gr. ... Athens (Greek: Αθήνα - Athína) is the largest city and capital of Greece, located in the Attica periphery of central Greece. ... Sparta (Doric: Spártā, Attic: SpártÄ“) is a city in southern Greece. ... View from the top of Thira Santorini is a small, circular group of volcanic islands located in the Aegean Sea, 75 km south-east of the Greek mainland, (latitude: 35. ... [[Im Category: ... Tupa Inca tunic The tunic was the common masculine garment of Roman civilization. ... The Korybantes, called the Kurbantes in (Phrygia), are the crested dancers who worship the Phrygian goddess Cybele with drumming and dancing. ...

Possible Vlach origin

Romanian Căluşari dancer from Arad, dressed in a traditional Romanian costume, early 20th century. Notice the fustanella-type garment, similar to the costumes of the Aromanians.

Another theory is that this type of garment was brought from the territory comprising modern Romania, by the Aromanians (see Romania in the Dark Ages), although there is no documented evidence of a migration of Latin speaking populations from the territory of present-day Romania to the western Balkans. The etymology could also be explained in this way: in Romanian, fuşte means "lance"/"wooden baton", from Latin fustis. A diminutive of it is fus, meaning spindle. Hence, fusta means a fabric made using a fus. The -ela termination is a typical Romanian ending of diminutives, in this case of the Romanian fustă, meaning skirt. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 361 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (646 × 1073 pixel, file size: 44 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)CăluÅŸari dancer in traditional costume. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 361 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (646 × 1073 pixel, file size: 44 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)CăluÅŸari dancer in traditional costume. ... The căluÅŸari () is a traditional Romanian folk dance closely resembling the English morris dance and originally derives from Southern Romania. ... Arad may refer to: the following places in the Transylvania Arad, Romania, the main city of Arad County. ... Aromanians (also called: Arumanians or Macedo-Romanians; in Aromanian they call themselves Armãnji, Rrãmãnji) are a people living throughout the southern Balkans, especially in northern Greece, Albania, the Republic of Macedonia and Bulgaria, and as an emigrant community in Romania (Dobruja). ... Aromanians (also called: Arumanians or Macedo-Romanians; in Aromanian they call themselves Armãnji, Rrãmãnji) are a people living throughout the southern Balkans, especially in northern Greece, Albania, the Republic of Macedonia and Bulgaria, and as an emigrant community in Romania (Dobruja). ... The Dark Ages in Romania refer to the period starting with the withdrawal of the Roman administration and ending roughly in the 11th century - with the last phase of the Age of Migrations. ... A spindle (sometimes called a drop spindle) is a wooden spike weighted at one end with a wheel and an optional hook at the other end. ...

Evolution

The garment is made from long strips of linen sewn together to make a pleated skirt. Some Greeks, such as general Theodoros Kolokotronis had almost four hundred pleats in their garments, one for each year of Turkish rule over Greece. The style evolved over time. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, the skirts hung below the knees, and the hem of the garment was gathered together with garters and tucked into the boots to create a "bloused" effect. Later, during the Bavarian regency, the skirts were shortened to create a sort of billowy pantaloon that stopped above the knee; this garment was worn with hose, and either buskins or decorative clogs. This is the costume worn by the modern Greek evzones Presidential Guard. Torn linen cloth, recovered from the Dead Sea Linen is a material made from the fibers of the flax plant. ... A skirt is a traditionally feminine tube- or cone-shaped garment which is worn from the waist and covers the legs. ... Monument of Theodoros Kolokotronis in Athens Theodoros Kolokotronis Theodoros Kolokotronis (Greek: . Θεόδωρος Κολοκοτρώνης, 3 April 1770 - 15 February 1843) was a Greek general in the Greek War of Independence against the rule of the Ottoman Empire. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Garter (stockings). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Pants. ... Florentine particolored hose, c. ... Buskin is a sort of knee- or calf- length boot made of leather or cloth. ... We are all looking fsorward to a great sseason in 2005. ...

While the image of warriors with frilly skirts tucked into their boots may seem impractical to a contemporary audience, it should be noted that modern paratroopers use a similar method to blouse their trousers over their jumpboots. Lace was commonly worn on military uniforms in the west until well into the 19th century, and gold braid and other adornments still serve as markers of high rank in formal military uniforms. Fustanella were very labor-intensive and thus costly, which made them a status garment that advertised the wealth and importance of the wearer. Western observers of the Greek War of Independence noted the great pride which the klephts took in their foustanella, and how they competed to outdo each other in the sumptuousness of their costume. An American Paratrooper using a MC1-B series parachute Paratroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and generally operate as part of an airborne force. ... Lace appliqué and bow at the bust-line of a nightgown. ... A braid Step by step creation of a basic braid using three strings To braid is to interweave or twine three or more separate strands of one or more materials in a diagonally overlapping pattern. ... Combatants Greek revolutionaries United Kingdom Kingdom of France Russian Empire Ottoman Empire Egyptian Khedivate Commanders Theodoros Kolokotronis Alexander Ypsilanti Georgios Karaiskakis Omer Vryonis Mahmud Dramali Pasha Reşid Mehmed Pasha Ibrahim Pasha. ...

Today

Boy Scouts wearing Fustanellas dancing in Greek festival at Tarpon Springs, Florida (1960) – State Archive of Florida

Today fustanella are part of traditional Albanian and Greek dresses, worn mainly by ceremonial Greek military units and Albanian folk dancers. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Tarpon Springs is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida. ... Folk dancers in Prague Folk dance is a term used to describe a large number of dances, mostly of European origin, that tend to share the following attributes: They were originally danced in about the 19th century or earlier (or are, in any case, not currently copyrighted); Their performance is...

Incidentally, the correct Greek plural is foustanelles (φουστανέλλες) but as with the (semi-correct) foustanellas, it is rarely employed by native English speakers.

Name in various languages

Native terms for "skirt" and "dress" included for comparison:

Aromanian (also known as Macedo-Romanian, Arumanian or Vlach in most other countries; in Aromanian: limba aromână, limba armânească, armâneashti or armãneshce) is an Eastern Romance language spoken in Southeastern Europe. ... Arvanitic or Arvanitika (Greek: Αρβανίτικα; native name: Arbëríshte; spelled in the Greek-based Arvanitic alphabet) is the variety of Albanian traditionally spoken by the Arvanites, a population group in Greece. ... Megleno-Romanian (known as Vlăheşte by speakers and Moglenitic, Meglenitic or Megleno-Romanian by linguists) is a Romance language, similar to Aromanian, and Romanian spoken in the Moglená region of Greece, in a few villages in the Republic of Macedonia and also in a few villages in Romania. ...

Notes

The Oxford English Dictionary print set The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is a dictionary published by the Oxford University Press (OUP), and is generally regarded as the most comprehensive and scholarly dictionary of the English language. ...

External link

• The fustanella in Greece
• Albanian Folk Costumes