Norwegian Bunads



Me and Solveig in our summer Bunads circa 1963

 Norwegians have unique costumes that are worn on special occasions called bunads (boo-nods).  There are elaborate formal versions of them, and simple "summer" versions of them, such as you see above, and the designs vary from region to region around Norway.

The two dresses shown above are different as Solveig's bunad is an "Oslo" bunad, while mine is from the area of northern Norway known as Trøndelag.  My mother had spent her summers up there, in a town called Levanger, when she was young.  I was lucky to have this bunad made for me by the same lady who had made my mother's bunad so many years before.  The Trønder bunad that I'm wearing has the traditional blue from the area.  The pewter clasp at the waist is also authentic. 

Although these dresses are usually worn with brooches, known as sølje, you will note that they are worn in different ways.  According to tradition, the Trønder bunad has the brooch placed at the top of the bodice, while the Oslo bunad has the brooch on the middle part of the bodice.

The shoes are pure 1960s, though! 


There was a recent study done in Norway that discovered a huge percentage of Norwegian women (more than 80 percent), owned a bunad and wore it on special occasions.  I think it's a fun tradition.

America has a similar tradition of dressing - but I think it's called tee-shirts and jeans.  We've become a nation of sloppy dressers, even, I've noticed lately, when attending church.

Here's a quote from Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:

We used to speak of “best dress” or “Sunday dress,” and maybe we should do so again. In any case, from ancient times to modern we have always been invited to present our best selves inside and out when entering the house of the Lord—and a dedicated LDS chapel is a “house of the Lord.” Our clothing or footwear need never be expensive, indeed should not be expensive, but neither should it appear that we are on our way to the beach. When we come to worship the God and Father of us all and to partake of the sacrament symbolizing the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we should be as comely and respectful, as dignified and appropriate as we can be. We should be recognizable in appearance as well as in behavior that we truly are disciples of Christ, that in a spirit of worship we are meek and lowly of heart, that we truly desire the Savior’s Spirit to be with us always.

A lot has changed in the world since the early 1960s, but standards of modesty and care in dressing shouldn't be among them.  Fashions may change, but let's hold on to the things that are good. 

Like those old-fashioned bunads, they can bring something of value into our lives.