Figure 1.--This Norwegian boy wears embroidered lederhosen with heavy kneesocks. |
Norway is a Scandinavian country dating from the dark ages. The Norewigians first appear in the written historical records when the Viking raids on England began in the 9th century. The current Norwegian state is of much more recent historical origins. The Norwegoan nkindom was founded after the tun of the 20th centiry when Norway separated from Sweden.
Norway, despite the assiciation with fierce Vickings who terorized northwestern Europe during the Middle Ages, is a very new country which only became an independent Europe. Earlier it was part of Denmark and Sweeden. Thus discussiions of historic Nlorwefian clothing is essentially a discussdion of Danish and Swiss clothing. Fashions in these three Scandinacvian countries as well as Finland are quite similar. Fashions in the these countries, especially Norway have been influenced by the transnational nomadic people of the Arctic, the Lapps. Norway is perhaps best known for the spectacular beauty of the fijords and arguably the worst food in Europe.
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Norway has an extremely colorful history. Norway was populated by the northern Germanic tribes that were unknown to the ancients. These people entered into written history as the Vikings as a result of their attacks on Britain. The Vikings exhibited a brutality that was striking in a not very gentle era. Ironically, the Vikings played an important role in the development of European democracy. Norway has had some destinctive monarchs in the medevil era. As a result of union with Denmark in the 13th century, however, there was for about 500 years no separate Norwegian monarch. Norway despite its long history, is a relatively young European nations in constitutional terms and the monarchy one of the newest. The current monarchy only dates to 1905 when Norway withdrew from the union with Sweden. The first Norwegian monarch in modern times was King Haakon VII who was elected in 1905 and served through the turbulant era of the first half of the 20th century. Norway adopting the Swedish approach, remained neutral in World War I and hoped to do the same when World War II brike out. Germany invaded and occupied the country. After the War, Norway reversed in neutrality policy and joined NATO. The country began building awlfare state in the inter-wars period and this process continued after World War II.
Norway way as a country disappeared in the middle ages and became part of Denmark and than Sweden. Thus fashions were influenced by these associations, as well as the country's climate northern lattitude. ermany because of its size and economic importance wa an important influence on Scandinavian fashions. Germany bordered on Denmark and shred a Baltic coast with Sweden. We do not have much information on the19th century, but believe Norwegian fashions generally followed Europen trends, especially Scndinavian trends. Norway seceeded from Sweden and began an independent kingdom. The Norwegian queen was a British princess. This perhaps introduced a British touch to the basically Scandinavian-German styles. The short pants that became widely worn in Europe during the
1920s were never as common in Norway as in other European
counrties, in part because of the climate. Some little boys wore shorts and over-the-knee stockings. By the late 1940s, young boys used long stockings, if they were 10 or younger, and only in winter. By the 1970s, Norwegian boys were wearing the generalized European fashions, albeit with styles especially suited for cold weather.
We do not yet have much information on the garments worn by Norwegian boys. Our archive of Norwegian images is very limited at this time. We do note Norwegian boys wearing sailor suits, a style that was common throughout Scandinavia. Knitwear is popular in Norway as it is in all the Scandinavian countries. We notice many images of Norwegian boys wearing as wide variety of knitwear. Traditiinally mothers and grandmothers knitted warm clothes at home for their children. We also note boys wearing kneepants at the turn of the century. Short pants were popular for Summer wear during the mid-20th century. Knickers were also wuidely worn by Norwegian boys. We note them being worn in Norway after they had passed out of fashion in other countries. A factor here is that knickers and ski pants were essenhtially the same sgtyle. We have noted Norwegian boys wearing a wide range of hosiery, including long stoclkings and tights.
Norway like other Scandanavian countries have not required school uniforms. Boys wore their normal clothes so school wear has simply reflected the contemprary Norwegian fashions. Norwegian readers tell HBC that the individuality and importance of personal choice has meant that school uniform has never proven popular in Norway.
We note some Norwegian folk costumes which appear to be bright vests, white shirts, black knickers and white stockings. The indigenous people of Norway and the rest of northwestern Europe are the Lapps. Their attire has been affected by their Arctic environment. It has also influenced Norwegian fashions and clothing.
Norway has an extremely colorful history, including some destinctive monarchs in the medevil era. Asca result of union with Denmark in the 13th century, however, there was for about 500 years no separate Norwegian monarch. Norway despite its long history, is a relatively young European nations in constitutional terms and the monarchy one of the newest. The current monarchy only dates to 1905 when Norway withdrew from the union with Sweden. The first Norwegian monarch in modern times was King Haakon VII who was elected in 1905 and served through the turbulant era of the first half of the 20th century.
The best known minority in Norway are the Lapplanders or Sàmi people. Other minorities recohnized by the Norwegian Government include Jews, Kvens (people of Finnish descent living in the North), Roma (Gypsies), Scandinavian Romani, and Skogfins (people of Finnish descent living in the south-east). I am not sure why there does not appear to be a Swedish minority. Norway in recent years because of liberal immigration law has allowed large numbers of foreign immigrants enter the country. The Lapps are are the undigenous Proto-Finno-Saami (Uralic) people migrating west from the east and south-east into what is now Scandanavia (about 6,000 BC). Nearly two-thirds of the Lapps live in Norway. Smaller numbers live in northern Sweden, Finland, and Russia (Kola Peninsula). The rights of the Lapps are enshrined in the Norwegian Constitution and law.
Historical studis of the Lapps were until recently limited to culture and linguistics. modern DNA studies have provided important insights challengoing earlier assumtions. Reseachers now believe that two most frequent maternal linages of the Sámi people are the first Homo sapien inhabitants in Europe. They also seem to be descendants of common ancestors with Catalonians and the Basque people, other early inhabitants of Europe (Iberian Peninsula). The most common paternal linage among the Sami are Proto-Finno-Ugric migrants from the south and southwest (Volga-Ural region). The Lapps are commonly associated with reindeer herding. Only a small minority are, however, actually involved with this livlihood. More Lapps are involved with fishing, trapping animals, sheep herding, and other pursuits. Norway had amall Jewish population. The NAZIs after they invaded and occupied Norway during World War II (1940). Much of Norway's small Jewish popuilation was arrested and deported. Many managed to survive, however, as they were accorded special treatment.
We do not yet have an overall page for Norwegian youth groups. There is a page for Norwegian Scouting. There is also a page on Norwegian nationalist groups.
We have few personal accounts from Norway. Hopefully our Norwegian readers will provide us some information about their experiences. Some personal accounts about or touching on Norway are very helpful in understanding fashion and clothing as well as general social trends.
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