Miss World 2012 : The history behind Mongolian national dress

As the Miss World 2012 contestants have had plenty of opportunities to witness, Mongolian traditional costume is a riot of colour and decoration.

Maria Tsagkaraki from Greece poses with a local who is wearing traditional costume

When celebrating weddings, sacrifices or festivals such as Nadam Fair (a sporting event held each year in the grasslands) Mongolians wear brightly coloured silks in reds, blues and greens. These are often richly decorated with embroidery (a skill which is excelled at here) in pictures of dragons, phoenixes, flowers, fish and other unique patterns.

Reigning Miss World, Ivian Sarcos, helps the bride remove her veil during a demonstration of a Mongolian wedding ceremony

Most ostentatious is the headdress, where Mongolians believe that bigger is better! This comes from the long tradition that Mongolia has of herding. Shepherds would amass their wealth in gold, silver or jewellery and the easiest way to display this (and carry it over the many miles they would travel) was to attach it to their headgear! Thus, the more richly decorated your headdress, the more prosperous you were seen to be.

The contestants see the traditional dress in a typically Mongolian setting

When it comes to the jewels and colours that would be selected, silver is a popular choice as in Mongolia it symbolises cleanliness. Pearls and amber are seen as the lucky and imply nobility, as well as being thought to convey long life and happiness but red coral is the most sought after as it is very bright and also rare in Mongolia.

The contestants for Mexico, Honduras and Costa Rica wearing headresses

Hats made of fur are often seen on herdsmen as they are warm and the rarity of the pelt you are wearing indicates your prowess at hunting. Feathers are also used to make headdresses more dramatic. When there is a wedding in Mongolia, the bride will usually wear a very elaborate headpiece and whether they are rich or poor, will attach their most precious jewellery to it. When they are married they often wear hats with large stick-like constructions on the top from which they suspend bright skeins of silk.

Maria Zamorano of El Salvador models a traditional fur hat

Kristina Krajcirova of Slovakia in bright embroidery

Monique Lopez of Guatemala in a feathered creation

Create Date : 06 สิงหาคม 2555		0 comments
Last Update : 6 สิงหาคม 2555 22:42:27 น.
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