THE TYPICAL COSTUMES OF THE ANDEAN REGION OF COLOMBIA - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The typical costumes of the Andean region of Colombia are marked by the traditional mountain culture that characterizes the region. Considered as "the heart of Colombia", it is one of the most picturesque, cold and traditional regions of the whole country.

The typical man's costume usually includes long pants with a patterned shirt and espadrilles, always accompanied by a hat, a ruana and a carriel.

In this region, the ruana is the most typical traditional artisan product made of 100% high quality wool; while the carriel, is a kind of soft and resistant leather wallet.

In the case of women, it is usual to wear a long flowered skirt in different shades and a white, long-sleeved, warm, high-neck blouse combined with a hat, espadrilles and always the characteristic braided hairstyle.

Characteristic costumes of the Andean region of Colombia

And, although that is the characteristic costume, the region is made up of the departments of: Antioquia, Boyacá, Caldas, Cundinamarca, Huila, Santander, Quindío, Risaralda and Tolima.

Each one of them with marked cultural manifestations that reflect the wealth of one of the most important regions of Colombia and that with their different dances and traditions, have a wide variety of traditional costumes.

The popular costume of the "arriero" antioqueño

Considered one of the most popular typical costumes of the Andean region of Colombia and Antioquia for being the paisa symbol par excellence and being used since ancient times.

The suit consists of rolled-up canvas trousers and a long-sleeved collarless shirt with a striped blanket over the shoulder. Being common to use espadrilles and the typical carriel and poncho.

The carriel consists of a small leather or tiger-skin bag that has existed since the time of the conquest when the Americans who worked in the Colombian mines carried bags that they called “carry-all” in English.

According to tradition, each carriel must contain a congolo (bull's eye), a nail of some beast, the teeth of Santa Apolonia, dice, barbera, lighter, playing card, tobacco and silver.

In addition, the pockets carry the portrait of the beloved woman, hair chains, pictures of saints and the novena to the souls.

Equally typical is the “Tapapinche”, a kind of apron that the man must put on his pants and that is usually light-colored.

Originally, it served to cover the male organ, which went outside the pants so that the laborers could work and urinate more easily.

In the case of women, her typical costume is that of the "Chapolera", that is, the woman who picks up the coffee.

The typical dress consists of a black skirt with colored ribbons, a white blouse with a square or round neckline and baggy sleeves and espadrilles.

In the hair it is common to make braids knotted with bows and the best "golden candongas", namely earrings, should be placed on the ears.

Boyacá and his Chibcha costume

The typical female wardrobe of the Cundiboyense highlands consists of using a striped cotton fabric skirt with wide ruffles and striking colors. At the edges of the skirt it is customary to have applications of colors and drawings.

It is common to wear the "chircate", a square blanket that is tight at the waist; and the "liquira" is another blanket that should go over the shoulders and pinned to the chest with a gold or silver pin. While the typical espadrilles should be used on the feet.

In the case of men, clothing is simple, including long wool pants, a cotton shirt and espadrilles.

It is customary for a man to wear a hat made of “palmiche” braid and palm fiber from the bouquet, and for the shirt to have a military collar with buttoning on the left shoulder, the cuffs and collar must be dotted with black.

Caldas and their dances

In this department, the typical costume is usually similar to the traditional Antioqueño, however, it has some small differences. In caldas it is customary to dance two traditional dances, namely "Pasillo" and "Bambuco", which give the typical costume a different twist.

To dance the Aisle, it is common for women to wear a full, colorful and showy one-piece costume using two petticoats and leaving their feet bare.

In the case of men, long white pants and shirt, espadrilles and straw hat are used.

For the Bambuco, the man must wear pants rolled up to the calves and a striking shirt accompanied by a scarf around the neck.

It is necessary to include a white hat, the carriel and the machete at the waist. In the case of women, a half-sleeve blouse and a skirt with horizontal stripes of different colors are used. It is also customary to wear a small hat.

Cundinamarca and his peasant costume

In the case of men's clothing, it is usually similar to those described above. However, it is the woman's outfit that stands out.

The typical costume is usually a combination of Hispanic and indigenous elements where a skirt with hand-embroidered ornaments is usually used, which can be of different colors and designs.

These ornaments are usually representations of aboriginal mythology, and it is also traditional for the petticoats to be combined with the design of the skirt.

The blouse must be white fabric with a deep neckline embroidered on the neck and sleeves. It is tradition to use two braids in the hair tied with showy red ribbons and striking necklaces and earrings. White espadrilles with black ribbons are used on the feet.

The traditional skirt of Huila

The typical costume of the Huila department is quite traditional, with the difference that women's skirts are usually special because they are hand painted and decorated with various die-cut applications of flowers, leaves, sequins and lace.

In the case of the blouse, it is usually white and must also contain embroidered lace. Women tend to style their hair with bows or braids and wear the famous pindo hat hand-woven with flowers.

The simplicity of Santander

The popular Antioqueño costume is usually used with the difference that men usually use leather ankle boots instead of espadrilles.

In the case of women, instead of being gathered with braids, their hair usually has attractive colored ribbons and combs.

A velvet ribbon with a Christ medallion is characteristic of the neck, which must match the earrings.

Popular costumes from Quindío, Risaralda and Tolima

In the case of Quindío, the dress of Antioquia is also followed. However, women's hair is usually adorned with natural flowers, while aprons with ornate flowers should be worn on skirts.

In Risaralda, the traditional costume is the one that is usually used with the difference that the woman must wear a headscarf that must be covered by a straw hat.

Finally, in Tolima it is a tradition for women to wear a skirt with a single striking color that will have appliqués, ribbons and different bows as an ornament.

References

1. Typical outfits. Retrieved on August 12, 2017 from discoveringlaliteraturapaisa.blogspot.com.
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5. Andean region. Retrieved on August 11, 2017 from colombia.com.
6. Andean region. Retrieved on August 12, 2017 from Departamentodecaldas.blogspot.com.
7. National System of Cultural Information. Changing rooms of Colombia. Retrieved on August 11, 2017 from sinic.gov.co.