Figure 1.--Most of the boys at this school in Bavaria about 1960 look to be wearing lederhosen. They would not have been as common in other areas of Germany. An American reader tells HBC, "I remember seeing that photograph in the article on education in the 'World Book Encyclopedia' that I received on my 11th birthday. I remember being struck by how differently boys in Germany dressed."

Lederhosen developed as the folk costume of (mountaineous regions) of Bavaria and Austria. However, I'm not sure if only in Tyrol or in other regions, as well. For example, a German reader remembers a celebration of the birthday of K☺önig Ludwig II (Mad King Ludwig) of Bavaria who built picturesque fairy tale castles. On that event all men and boys (and of course the women and girls, too) wore folk Tracht. It was a solemn and somehow sinister moment, as all participants were rather grave. They had brought torches with them and the band played the Bavarian hymn. (I believe, all Bundesländer have their own hymn.) Lederhosen gradually spread throughout Germany. I'm not sure about the chornology here, but believe that the Wandervogel first and later the Hitler Youth were instrumental in popularizing lederhosen in other areas of Germany. Lederhosen were not part of the official uniform of either group, but both strongly promoted folk culture. Hopefully our German readers will offer some insights on how lederhosen came to be worn in areas of Germany outside Bavaria. While lederhosen spread to other areas of Germany, they continued to be worn more commonly in Bavaria than other parts of Germany. We note that many images of German schools show a few boys wearing lederhosen while in Bavaria sometimes a substantial numbers of boys wear them. They still continue to be more popular in Bavaria than other areas of Germny as lederhosen in recent years have increasingly become worn as folk costume rather than regular boys clothing.

Bavaria

Outside of Germany, Lederhosen are commonly seen as a German style. Actually they are a regional style. Thet developed as the folk costume of (mountanous regions) of Bavaria and neighboring Austria. Upper Bavaria was especially imprtant. The term Upper Bavaria relates to the relative locatio on on the Danube and its tributaries: downstream, Upper Bavaria is followed by Lower Bavaria, then Upper Austria, and then Lower Austria. These areas overlap with Tyrol, another area where Lederhosen were worn. We are not sure, however, Iabout the relative importance. A German reader remembers a celebration of the birthday of König Ludwig II (Mad King Ludwig) of Bavaria who built picturesque fairy tale castles. On that event all men and boys (and of course the women and girls, too) wore the folk Tracht. It was a solemn and somehow sinister moment, as all participants were rather grave. They had brought torches with them and the band played the Bavarian hymn. (I believe, all Bundesländer, German states, have their own hymn.) We are not sure why Lederhosen developed in Alpine regions. We susopect it was the material that was readily availabke to peasabtry. Before the Industrial Revolution, clothing was very expensive in relative terms. As leather was a material the peasantry had, and would last far longer than pants made of other material. Alpine regions were nottheonly regions where keather was used for clithing. In North ameruica, bith Native americans abd frintiersmen used leather.

Other States

Lederhosen gradually spread throughout Germany, although we have few details as to the popularity in different states and to what extent they differed. They may have been more popular in the states near Bavaria, but HBC has no actual confirmation of this. I'm not sure about the chornology here, but believe that the Wandervogel first and later the Hitler Youth were instrumental in popularizing lederhosen in other areas of Germany. Lederhosen were not part of the official uniform of either group, but both strongly promoted folk culture. Hopefully our German readers will offer some insights on how lederhosen came to be worn in areas of Germany outside Bavaria. While lederhosen spread to other areas of Germany, they continued to be worn more commonly in Bavaria than other parts of Germany. We note that many images of German schools show a few boys wearing lederhosen while in Bavaria sometimes a substantial numbers of boys wear them. They still continue to be more popular in Bavaria than other areas of Germny as lederhosen in recent years have increasingly become worn as folk costume rather than regular boys clothing.

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Created: March 11, 2002
Last updated: 12:35 AM 11/4/2022