DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5074#0472
454
HUNGARIAN COSTUME.
other off they re-commence the coquettish inviting and
pursuit; the step is a very difficult one, almost en-
tirely a movement of the foot on the heels, in the
quicker part the couple remain on the same spot, hut the
body is then moved on the hips in accompaniment with
the feet: it is excessively fatiguing but very lively, es-
pecially when the gentleman brings his arms into action
as well as his feet — and the music of the Tzardash is
most impetuous and fascinating. The costume of the
Hungarian lady consists — morning and evening, in the
house and in the open air — of a low boddice in silk or
velvet, fastened with a row of silver clasps up the front:
a half-high chemisette of thin muslin or net over the
neck, and very full short sleeves tied up with ribbons ;
the skirt is of white or some bright colour, long and full,
with an apron, generally of muslin or lace — this apron
is always worn, even at balls: the headdress of the
girls, is a snood of black velvet standing like a coronet
round the head, and a huge bow of ribbon at the back,
the ends descending to the waist; that of the married
ladies is shaped like the crown of a bonnet, with a long
scarf of tulle hanging gracefully down over the shoulders.
The colours worn are always the gayest possible, and
chiefly the national colours — scarlet and green on
white. The Hungarian gentleman wears a closely but-
toned frock coat richly braided with quantities of silver
buttons ; tight fitting pantaloons, in black or grey, also
much braided, and boots over these reaching above the
knee. His hat is very low, the rim evenly turned up all
round, and almost invariably ornamented with a single
eagle's feather, or a bunch of the long, delicate fea-
thers of the white egret. In summer, the ladies walk
and drive out in the dress we have described: in winter
they add a cloth cloak covered with braiding and silver
HUNGARIAN COSTUME.
other off they re-commence the coquettish inviting and
pursuit; the step is a very difficult one, almost en-
tirely a movement of the foot on the heels, in the
quicker part the couple remain on the same spot, hut the
body is then moved on the hips in accompaniment with
the feet: it is excessively fatiguing but very lively, es-
pecially when the gentleman brings his arms into action
as well as his feet — and the music of the Tzardash is
most impetuous and fascinating. The costume of the
Hungarian lady consists — morning and evening, in the
house and in the open air — of a low boddice in silk or
velvet, fastened with a row of silver clasps up the front:
a half-high chemisette of thin muslin or net over the
neck, and very full short sleeves tied up with ribbons ;
the skirt is of white or some bright colour, long and full,
with an apron, generally of muslin or lace — this apron
is always worn, even at balls: the headdress of the
girls, is a snood of black velvet standing like a coronet
round the head, and a huge bow of ribbon at the back,
the ends descending to the waist; that of the married
ladies is shaped like the crown of a bonnet, with a long
scarf of tulle hanging gracefully down over the shoulders.
The colours worn are always the gayest possible, and
chiefly the national colours — scarlet and green on
white. The Hungarian gentleman wears a closely but-
toned frock coat richly braided with quantities of silver
buttons ; tight fitting pantaloons, in black or grey, also
much braided, and boots over these reaching above the
knee. His hat is very low, the rim evenly turned up all
round, and almost invariably ornamented with a single
eagle's feather, or a bunch of the long, delicate fea-
thers of the white egret. In summer, the ladies walk
and drive out in the dress we have described: in winter
they add a cloth cloak covered with braiding and silver