German Lederhosen or leather pants
Traditional german clothes
German lederhosen are to Germanic peoples, and traditionally most especially to those who live in the Alpine Mountains of Bavaria as well as Austrians and the Swiss, what the kilt is to the Scots. But nowadays you get them also as party costumes... See for yourself:
"Lederhosen" simply means leather pants or leather trousers - as "Hose" means trousers in German. This clothing item is far beyond just a pair of pants like, say, a pair of denim jeans. These are a certain type of short pants which originated in Germany and Austria. Some call them also Plattlerhosen!
This is in my opinion one of the best traditional German gifts that
can be given to a man with German roots.
German Lederhosen are the pants that have traditionally been held up with straps, known as "Hosenträger". Many people reading this have seen them at one time or another. However, the Lederhosen don't have to be the short kind, the "Sepplhose(n)" or "kurze Lederhose(encan)". The Lederhosen can also be full length and cover the knee as "Kniebundhose(n)".
worn during certain celebrations
Lederhosen are worn by Bavarians, Austrians, Swiss, and Germans during certain season celebrations including German Oktoberfest "Kirchtag", and "Sonnwendfeier".But they trace their origins as Germanic clothing fashion back to the Rococo period, when a Romantic spirit which idealized "the simple life" pervaded much of Europe; thus the rustic costumes of peasant weddings and pastorals had become beloved of royalty and nobility in court circles.
Surveys of "simple life"
It was in the mountains and mountain dwellers where so many found this embodiment of "the simple life". Many topographical-statistical surveys were made at the time. "Illuminated" politicians and nobles were keen on knowing all about different regional customs, costumes, and "quirks" in those days and took great pains to explore and survey the land to know more about them.Roots in nationalistic pride
The Napoleonic Wars and the rise of a new Austro-Hungarian Empire would also have played a role in the popular fashion that were the Lederhosen, because such local fashion mongering always has roots in patriotic or at least nationalistic pride.Various features and combinations
The Lederhosen cannot be mistaken for "just any pair of short leather pants", as they have certain distinguishing features which set them apart. These features are included to greater or lesser extent in various combinations on different pairs of lederhosen. Just as with the length chosen, there is no "right" or "wrong" with these combinations.The distinguishing features include:
*A fall front, with a zipper or button fastener.*Leather braces inclusive of a cross bar
*The legs having a turn up or cuff and lace patterns at their bottom
*Large buttons which are attached by a leather strap
*Front pockets instead of side pocket and a single small knife pocket located close to the bottom of the right leg
Also, with Lederhosen, the leather chosen is picked with regard to durability, not as a fashion statement. Ironically, this is what makes them part of Germanic fashion!
Bottom Line: Ideal German Gift
German Lederhosen symbolize a distinct cultural tradition and are made with great quality in mind, making them an ideal German gift.
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