Indian clothes. Male and female Indian clothes

From time immemorial, the territory of modern America was inhabited by representatives of a surprisingly strong, enduring and mysterious people. These people believed that all life on earth is endowed with soul. They say they could talk to animals and plants. And the souls of their ancestors always remained with them in the breeze of the wind, in the blinking of sunlight and the quiet rustle of trees. They hunted these people not for profit, but for food, respectfully protecting their land and the gifts that it gave them. And for communication, sign language and all kinds of signals were more often used than voice. Now this people are called the general term "Indians", but in the old days there were several hundred separate tribes. Only in North America there were about 400 of them. They differed from one another in traditions, culture, way of life. Some of them were hunters, some were brave warriors, some were breeding cattle and farming. The clothing of the Indians of America was also different.

Some Native American Tribes

Indians are the common name of the indigenous population of America. And all because when Christopher Columbus discovered these places, he mistakenly considered them to be the land of India. In the northern part there lived Ottawa and Ojibwe. Closer to the East are the Iroquois and the Mohicans. The southeast was inhabited by Cherokees and Seminoles, Central America by the Maya and Aztec peoples. In South America, the Incas hunted, and in the deserts of the Southwest - Apaches and Navajo.

Indian warrior clothes

Indian clothing (photo presented in the article) was different depending on the situation and weather conditions. On ordinary days, going on a hunt, they dressed simply and comfortably. But for the rituals, in solemn moments or in courtship for the girls, the Indians dressed up richly and colorfully. Casual clothes consisted of a loincloth or leggings and moccasins. Usually men preferred to walk with their naked torso. These people did not attach much importance to the wardrobe, as is common with Europeans. Going to the hunt, the men pulled on the ankles leggings, reminiscent of modern gaiters. The leaders of the prairie Indians wore white shirts adorned with the scalps of enemies. In cold weather, a cloak of buffalo skins, fur to the body, was put on his shoulders. Gradually, the Indians began to prefer cloaks of sheep's wool. Clothing of the northern Indians was supplemented with mittens and a shirt made of deer skin and antelope. They also had cloaks that looked like blankets made from cotton. On the hunt, some tribes wore wide leather belts or sleeveless jackets to protect themselves from injuries. Only in the XIX century, imitating the rich Europeans, the Indians began to use velvet, chintz, silk, satin ribbons for tailoring. Quechua liked to put on a poncho - a cloak of two pieces of rectangular cloth with a hole for the head in the middle, sewn from sheep's wool. In the warm season, the cloak was doubled and worn as a scarf.

What women were dressed in

The clothing of the female Indians was less noticeable and simpler. The inhabitants of the southern regions wore only skirts, others - a belt of modesty, strapped at the waist with a lacing. In the center of America, women covered intimate places with pieces of fur, later replacing them with cotton cloth. In cold weather, women wore a shawl made of sheep's wool. On its back it was possible to turn and place in the formed space any burden or even a child. Prairie women wore long straight shirts made of suede. But all of them were skilled weavers. They made shirts, belts, belts, dresses, poncho raincoats and bedspreads on improvised looms. Women embroidered with beads and threads, sewed fringe and braid, made creases on clothes. The body and face of the girls were often painted with tattoos. Among the noble representatives of the tribe, the face and hands were covered with elaborate patterns, women from the simple estate applied only a few lines to the skin. In some tribes, the figures on the face testified to the low position in society, and on the hands, on the contrary, about the high status.

Indian Children's Clothing

Children up to 5-6 years old walked completely naked. It was believed that adult dresses they are worthy to wear only when they learn the rules of behavior and learn the necessary skills. It was in childhood that they began to depict the body with the first patterns. Old and respected women did this with the help of fish bones or cactus spines.

Hats

The Indians did not get their hair cut. Therefore, even the men had chic hair, intercepted from behind by a wide ribbon, bandage or belt. In some tribes, to scare the enemy, the heads were shaved, leaving a scallop or a thin pigtail. Or they greased hair with fat, gave them unthinkable forms. The national dress of the Indians, rather, was an ornament, an opportunity to show off, than a necessity. The head was worn with feathers, variously colored and clipped, on the body - the beaver's fur, otters, foxes or other animal. The number of feathers and the type of fur were determined by military rank or special merit before the tribe. For example, the panther skin could be worn only by the most outstanding warrior. On weekdays the Indians wore hats made of wood bark or straw, which protected them from the hot sun. Plains tribes built a crown of feathers. The southern population used hairpins, and on the forehead clinging a red thread with strings of beads on it, beads.

Footwear

On the feet of the Indians wore soft moccasins. It was a piece of leather, pulled from above by a cord, which was pulled into holes at the edges. Such shoes allowed them to quietly approach the prey or the enemy. But at the same time, it protected against numerous poisonous snakes and insects. Going to the hunt, the man took with him several pairs of moccasins in reserve. There were shoes with a soft or stiffer sole, high and low. Indians of the prairies richly decorated moccasins with porcupine needles.

Decoration

The style of Indians in clothes was distinguished by peculiar ethnic decorations. On the leather goods were applied drawings, embroidery, attached fringe, beads, shells. A special attribute was feathers. Both men and women loved bracelets not only for the hands, but also for the legs, earrings. Necklaces were made from feathers, fruit seeds, deer hooves, shells, grizzly claws, shells and teeth of animals. Later began to make jewelry from copper, silver and brass. The more massive they were, the higher the position in society a person occupied. Indians are very fond of applying on the body of tattoos, especially it concerns the peoples of the South. But men basically used a combat paint, which was washed off to look intimidating in hunting and war.

The clothing of the Indians did not say anything about their belonging to a particular tribe. Often many of them, after winning the battle, took the trophies to themselves and proudly carried them. Women decorated the men's shirts with beaded embroidery, ocher. And it was already impossible to figure out which representative of the tribe belonged to the outfit. In addition, the soldiers could wear the headgear of killed rivals in order to confuse the enemy.

Accessories

The clothing of the Indians was not so important as other things complementing the outfit. The men always had a tomahawk - a small hatchet that was a symbol of the honor and valor of a warrior. His handle was made of reindeer antler or wood, and the blade was silicon or metal. Tomahawk was intended for close combat, it was decorated with fringe from suede and was protected.

The pipe of the world is still considered a sacred object for a few descendants of the Indians. Initially, it was a symbol of fertility. It was lit in a circle, in turn, to call the rain. Smoke symbolized the clouds. Later, the pipe was smoked with Europeans to consolidate peace agreements. The decoration of the peace tube was eagle feathers.

The Indians still live on the territory of America. Now the clear boundaries of the division of the people by tribes have practically erased. But, despite the fact that there are very few pure-blooded Indians, they managed to preserve their culture and individuality, and they continue to honor the memory of their ancestors.