Nothing is more charming when it comes to the Bavarian costume than the traditional Charivari. Still today, the Charivari is a means of contact for the local people of the traditional Dirndl dress and can be seen almost everywhere during the carnival season. The greatest parts of the tradition are seen in southern Germany, from Swabia to Franconia, often even in Austria and Switzerland. But there are also some aspects which have been lost over time, thus making it rather difficult for a lot of people to wear these outfits.
A lot of German words sound very similar, but they actually have different meanings when translated. It’s not uncommon to show up at the Oktoberfest wearing a traditional costume, only to be told that you need a “charivari” instead. Make sure you know what it means before you sport the traditional garb anywhere during the festival.
Charivari for Women – A Bracelet to Pair with Dirndl Dress
The traditional clothing worn at Oktoberfest nowadays includes the “charivari,” which is most commonly worn by men. The female version of this Bavarian folk dress is more delicate than the male version and is decorated with small charms, silver talismans and comes in the form of a “dirndl”.
A traditional Southern German charm bracelet, called a charivari, is often worn on the bodice of the dirndl or on an apron’s waistband. It appears that the order of the charms is random at first glance.
But that’s not right. Each charm has a story and a place of its own. The charms aren’t randomly arranged; they’re arranged according to their meaning and purpose.
Charivari – An Accessory to Remember
Today we can see charivari at Oktoberfest. Some men make their lederhosen look even more stylish by wearing this accessory. Charivaris are small amulets that hunters once displayed to show off their successful hunts. The pendants were also status symbols for wealthy farmers and landowners.
The charivari was a popular decorative element in the Nineteenth Century. It was a chain worn around the waist. People would hang all sorts of things from them, from lucky charms to heirlooms passed down from generation to generation. They were even used as a way of expressing affection when a man gave his sweetheart one of these fancy chains.
Size of Charivari is an Important Factor
On average, a man’s charivari is 33 centimeters long. Most charivaris are made of gold and silver, with sterling silver being the most popular choice among contemporary wearers.
To this day, small parts of animals killed in a hunt are worked into charivaris. Parts of antlers and the claws of birds of prey enjoy great popularity, as do fangs. The most popular charivari are those with lots of horns and teeth.
Charivaris To Pair With Lederhosen
While men don’t have many chances to wear a charivari outside of folk festivals and Oktoberfest, women have embraced this tradition. The charivari is now an acceptable everyday item.
Bavarian fashionistas are wearing their charivaris not only to team with their dirndls but also to add elegance to their Lederhosen costume. They happily wear jeans and a shirt or blouse with their traditional cardigans, Tyrolean jackets, and of course charivaris!
Now let us have a look at the other German Dirndl dress accessories.
Other Dirndl Dress Accessories
To give you an idea of the accessories that are available this year, we’re going to take a quick tour of the Accessories section of Dirndl Online Shop.
- Dirndl bag
Sweet little felt handbags with designs like traditional Bavarian clothes are popular accessories for women at beer festivals, but they can be hard to find in a store. Now, there are more types of bags with the Bavarian look and embroidery available. There are shoulder bags made to go with dirndls.
Small bags are best suited to Dirndls because they do not weigh down the dress. No large bags are allowed in tents during the Oktoberfest event.
- Bavarian Belts
After decades of wearing dirndls, we girls have been wearing lederhosen and Bavarian-style jeans for years now. It’s surprising that designers and sellers have taken this long to realize that people need matching accessories.
Leather belts and traditional chains can be seen hanging from the front of the women’s lederhosen on a woman who is wearing a feminine version of the traditional male dress. These are just what you need to add some femininity to your Oktoberfest outfit. Women also wear traditional charivari chains with their drindl dress.
- Traditional hats
We know how well a nice hat can help complete your dirndl. However, we are pleasantly surprised by this season’s range, from bright green felt hats to lively reds with floral details, as well as elegant black and grey picks.
Besides hats, there are many other types of hair adornments available today. These include flowers, ribbons, and shapes that you can use to make your own hair wreath.
- Jewelry with dirndl
The most common accessory for Oktoberfest outfits is a choker or ribbon necklace to match your dirndl. Popular decorations include pewter edelweiss flowers, deer (for Bavaria), lions, pretzels, and beer steins.
Bracelets usually match your German dirndl dress and can be made of ribbon, leather, or metal. You can even use a short scarf to tie around your neck and then move it onto one of your wrists as you change up your look.
Apart from all accessories, charivari is a German experience you should try to get when you go to Germany. It’s a parade of people wearing traditional clothing, either Lederhosen or Dirndl.