A closer look at the some of the cultural attire from Hallingdal. Hallingdal attire is separated into different areas, and each area has their own cultural clothing. However here i am just focusing on it all as a whole.
It’s worth mentioning that the two last photos is known as Kirke stakk (A folk dress used when attending church)
Usually it consists of a wide headband/cap that is open in the back to let the hair through, with a large multicolored wool tassel on top. There is also a longer wool tassel attached to the hair and braids on the back of the head.
It is still sometimes in use on the modern Øvre Hallingdalsbunad, but caps in general are not very popular anymore.
The moose is called the "king of the forest". There are good reasons for that, it is Norway's largest mammal on land.
"I have never seen anything like it, and I have seen many animals throughout my photography career, says photographer Thomas Mørch."
He is talking about the spotted elk that walks around Hallingdal.
A few years ago Albin the albino moose became such a big celebrity that the hunting teams protected him. A white national treasure, which was felled by a Danish hunter in 2011 who had not caught the "protection".
Now the forest has a new moose that stands out. It is not completely white, but mottled.
You might have heard of the traditional folk costumes of Norway; the bunad. In case you aren't familiar, here are some examples;
These are mostly worn for special occasions; constitution day, confirmations, anniversaries, christmas celebrations, graduation day, and of course - weddings, which is what this post will be about!
For Norwegian weddings, it's most common to see the bride wearing white and some guests wearing their bunad. There is however bunader that are designed for the bride to wear, which is the bunad I will be showing you today; brudebunad! (trans. bride bunad)
Keep in mind that bunader are very region-specific, and traditionally you wear the bunad of the place you grew up, or alternatively where one of your parents is from (there's also people who inherit their bunad from relatives; like me!). Some brudebunad consist of the regular bunad but with added jewellery and a crown; others have a specific brudebunad. Many are custom made or reconstructed from known older bunader.
Now, on to the brudebunad;
I'm starting us off with the bunad that my mom wore; Romsdalsbunad, from Møre og Romsdal. (that's her on her wedding day in the picture!)
2. from Hallingdal, Buskerud
3. from Hardanger (general)
4. from Sørre Valdres
5. from Voss, Vestland
6. from Nordhordland, Vestland
7. from Ålmli, Aust-Agder
Hope this gave inspiration, whether it's for your Norwegian characters who are getting married or for a fantasy people who is inspired by Scandinavia!<3
If I got any of them very wrong, please let me know!
1) Copenhagen Harbor by Moonlight by Johan Christian Dahl
I really like this oil painting because it just gives a calming effect like you’ve just put it in a long days work at the shipyard and now you’re just waiting for the sun to set. Maybe the sun is just rising, I am not entirely sure but either way I can feel my blood pressure going down but just staring at this painting.
Virgils Tomb by Moonlight, with Silius Italicus Declaiming by Joseph Wright
I like this painting because it just grabs my attention and curiosity via the beautiful terrain Virgil’s tomb is dug into in Naples.
Saltash with the Water Ferry, Cornwall by Joseph Mallord William Turner. (Left)
The Return to the Fold by Anton Mavue. (Right)
I liked both of these paintings because they give me a sense of direction. The shepherd on the right and guiding the sheep, and the sailboats on the left are heading towards the shore.
The Source of the Loue by Gustave Courbet. (Left)
View over Hallingdal by Johan Christian Dahl. (Right)
Although these paintings are beautiful, they evoke feelings of restlessness and loneliness for me. The painting on the left gives the cave an ominous look, as if it is inevitable that you have to enter. The painting on the left looks like you got lost hiking and the sun is about to go away.
Sahurs Meadows in Morning Sun by Alfred Sisley. (Left)
View of Vetheuil By Claude Monet. (Right)
These paintings are absolutely stunning considering they were made in the late 1800s. Though I find this style of grass plains covered with trees and random shrubbery to lack activity or a sense of movement. Claude Monet is an amazing painter and the founder of impressionist painting but the painting on the right lacks liveliness.