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Greenland

Greenland Map.jpg
Greenland.jpg

Greenland Costume
from "Danske Folke Dragter" by Nanna Gandil, 1972

The stunning Greenland folk costume is like no other. It is still in use for ceremonial occasions and is exceedingly expensive. It contains the following elements:

a. White collar around the neck with embroidered flowers sewn on it.

b. Round fur collar big enough for the head to fit through with ease.

c. Decorative pearl wreath or necklace (nuvilaqutit) surrounding fur collar. There is no specific pattern; each is unique.

d. Anorak (water-resistant) jacket with long sleeves.

e. Sealskin trousers (takisut) which are quite short.

f. At the front of each leg is highly elaborate needlework. Very thin strips of leather in odd lengths are dyed in different colors and pulled in and out through an elaborate pattern of threads as a kind of pull-stitch, so that it all forms a lovely leather mosaic.

g. On both sides of the aforementioned needlework are strips of white sealskin.

h. On both sides of the white sealskin are strips of sealskin dyed lacquer red.

i. Long sealskin socks (alersit) with the hairs facing inward to trap warmth.

j. At the knee is a band with hand-embroidered flowers in red, blue and yellow.

k. Boots (kamik): white for unmarried women; red for married women.

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