Sarafan

Common card · No. 288656

A sarafan (Russian: сарафа́н, IPA: [sərɐˈfan], from Persian: سراپا sarāpā, literally "[from] head to feet") is a long, trapezoidal Russian dress worn by girls and women and forming part of Russian traditional folk costume. Traditional Russian costume consists of straight, flowing lines. Beginning at the turn of the 18th century, the sarafan became the most popular article of peasant women's clothing in the Northern and Central regions of Russia. Sarafans were regularly worn until well into the 20th century, having first been mentioned in chronicles dating back to the year 1376. The origin of the term Sarafan lies in Persia, but the structure of the sarafan was inspired by Viking women clothing. Old Russia cultivated especially during the era of Grand Principality of Moscow strong ties to Western Asia and Southwest Asia and served also as an intermediary in the trade between European countries like Sweden, and Asian countries like Persia, and what is today Turkey. The sarafan most likely...

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