The typical costumes of Cundinamarca are closely linked with the tradition and culture of this Colombian region, because they combine elements of indigenous and Hispanic costumes and are in keeping with its climate.
The typical peasant costume for women consists of a skirt made of baize cloth with very colorful ornaments.
They wear colored and embroidered petticoats. Also a white cloth blouse with a wide neckline, on the head a black mantilla with flat-brimmed hat and white espadrilles.
Origin
The origin of the typical clothing of this department of Colombia dates back to the pre-Hispanic indigenous people who inhabited the territory.
The natives already used the ruana to protect themselves from the cold in the areas of the Andes Mountains, and other clothing made with cotton and wool fabrics.
The costumes combine elements also contributed by the first Spaniards who conquered and populated the territory, all of which configured the current typical costume that emerged from the process of cultural exchange and assimilation.
Main features
Woman costume
The typical wardrobe of the Cundinamarquesa woman consists of a wide black cloth skirt.
It is made with hand-embroidered ornaments of multiple colors and varied motifs. These adorn the stripes of their design, which is similar to that used by the indigenous people of the Colombian highlands.
The skirt is accompanied by an underskirt or inner bottom, which generally contain colors and figures or embroidered motifs similar to those of the skirt.
The blouse is made of white fabric, with a wide neckline also embroidered with multiple colors, on a strip on both the neck and the sleeves.
The women cover their heads with a black mantilla and wear the jipa or straw hat. They wear white espadrilles tied with black braid in combination with the skirt.
Their hair is woven into braids that end in red ribbon bows. As jewelry they use colorful earrings and necklaces.
Man suit
The man's wardrobe consists of black denim pants with a cotton shirt and a red scarf around the neck.
Men wear white espadrilles, just like women. They wear a thick woolen ruana, straw hat and strong staff or club.
The garments of men and women are related to the harsh weather conditions of the region and the work of farming in the field.
The dark colors of the garments are linked to the sober character of the Cundinamarqués, but at the same time these garments are adorned with bright colors as a heritage of indigenous culture.
The typical costume of the department of Cundinamarca is quite similar to the costumes of the department of Boyacá. Both departments are part of the same geographical and cultural region.
References
- Wardrobe - Cundinamarca. Retrieved on November 18, 2017 from sinic.gov.co
- Typical Costumes Natural Regions of Colombia. Consulted of costumesc90.wordpress.com
- Costume from Cundinamarca. Consulted of colombiaaprende.edu.co
- Culture of Colombia. Consulted from everyculture.com
- Typical costumes of our department. cundinamarca901.blogspot.com
- We are Cundinamarca. Consulted from somoscundinamarca.weebly.com