Estonia - Folk Costumes 2004

2004 Estonian National Costumes - Viru County (Johvi and Viru-Jaagupi)

North Estonia, where Viru is the easternmost county, is more or less uniform in terms of traditional dress with no big differences between the individual parishes. The most conspicuous common feature for women was a characteristic short shirt or blouse called Kaised, sleeves. Complemented with a vertically striped skirt, it constituted the typical North Estonian women's dress in the 19th century. Longer than elsewhere, Viru wives traditionally wore caps, while girls adorned their heads with chaplets. Besides the cap, a married women had to wear an apron, and in the 19th century it was often made of fabric bought from a shop. The girdle was wrapped several times round the waist, with brooches, beads, and coin necklaces worn for decoration, as far as one could afford them. In addition to the traditional soft cowhide pastlad, shoes were used for footwear, and in a few cases they even had tapering heels. In men's dress, the most widespread garment in the 19th century North Estonia was a blue suit with knee breeches, which should actually be regarded as a folk adaptation of fashion clothes. White or blue and white striped linen clothes were used for summer wear. The main headgear for men was a tall black felt hat.

Johvi woman and girl in early 19th century dress.
Young man and girl from Viru-Jaagupi in dress of the first half of the 19th century.

2004 Estonian National Costumes. (Viru County - Viru-Jaagupi).
Denomination: 4.40
Date: 05 October 2004
Print: Offset
Designer: Mari Kaarma
Perforation: 13 3/4 x 14
Sheets: 5 x 5
Quantity issued: 650,000
Printing house: AS Vaba Maa


2004 Estonian National Costumes. (Viru County - Johvi).
Denomination: 7.50
Date: 05 October 2004
Print: Offset
Designer: Mari Kaarma
Perforation: 13 3/4 x 14
Sheets: 5 x 5
Quantity issued: 150,000
Printing house: AS Vaba Maa