Lofoten Islands and the Bunad

I took an optional bus tour through some of  the Lofoten islands. They were more than picturesque fishing villages, sheltered fjords, and precipitous  mountains.  There are still generations of fishermen making  their living  from the sea as their fathers and grandfathers did—except they have motors on their boats instead of oars!  Cod is still being hung on drying rack in their yards because that’s the way it’s always been done.  I was surprised to learn that Italy imports over 85 % of the dried cod and it goes back to an Italian fisherman, shipwrecked on the islands in 1500’s.  and getting the Pope to start importing the food that saved his life   Lofoten is a favorite place of artist because of the light quality and scenery and galleries have plenty paintings from that area. This is also the land of the trolls, fairies, and other forest people that can’t see the light of day or they’ll be turned into stone—hence so many mountains and some entertaining stories.  The women in the Lofoten islands, like every place in Norway, had traditional costumes or bunad  I talked to a shop owner who  explained that girls are still given the national costumes when they are confirmed at 15 years old.  On her island the women living close to the sea have a blue motif and blue plaid apron and those inland have a forest green motif with a green plaid apron—they differentiate between sea-people and forest-people.  These costumes are expensive, even by Norwegian standards and can cost several thousand dollars.  The shop owner told me that families, including grandparents,  start saving for these when girls are very young and it’s a major expenditure for most families.  I guess it makes it easier that college is free but goes to show you, there’s always something to save for!  Ingeniously, the bunads are made so that women can gain about 50 pounds and still fit into them!  The side seams are 3 inches wide and the front can be laced open a bit further if needed.  The bunad is still worn for holidays, National Day (I saw lots at the National Day parade in Ballard May 17), and other special occasions.  My family has an especially pretty one and the picture is my cousin, Karin, at 15 when she got hers.  She is now close to 50 so I’ll soon see if she has needed the extra inches!