Gákti

Gákti is a piece of traditional clothing worn by the Sámi in northern areas of Norway, Sweden, Finland and the Kola Peninsula in Russia. The gákti is worn both in ceremonial contexts and while working, particularly when herding reindeer. The traditional Sami outfit is characterized by a dominant color adorned with bands of contrasting colours, plaits, pewter embroidery, tin art, and often a high collar. In the Norwegian language the garment is called a 'kofte', and in Swedish it is called 'kolt'.

A goldwork collar of a traditional Sámi woman's gákti. This gákti has a metal embroidery collar with pewter or silver thread and traditional Sámi silver buckles.
A pattern of a metal embroidered collar for a traditional male Sámi gákti from Åsele, Västerbotten, Sweden. The metal thread most commonly used for the embroidery is Pewter.
Two Finns dressed up in fake gákti outside of Rovaniemi, Finland. Though at first glance authentic, the patterns on these gáktis are not traditional anywhere in Sapmi

Characteristics

The colours, patterns and decorations of the costume can signify a person's marital status and geographical origin. There are different gákti for women and men; men's gáktis are shorter at the hem than women's. Traditionally the gákti was made from reindeer skin, but in modern times, wool, cotton or silk are more common. The gákti can be worn with a belt (pleated, quilted or with silver buttons), silver jewellery, traditional leather footwear and a silk scarf. Traditionally, if the buttons on the belt are square, it shows the wearer is married. If they are round, the person is unmarried. If a married couple divorce, and the ex-husband still continues to use the Sami costume made by his ex-wife, he states by this that he wants her back.

In other Sámi languages

"Gákti" is the Northern Sámi term for the clothing. Other terms are also used in other Sami languages:

Inari Sámi: mááccuh[1]

Skolt Sámi: määccaǩ[1]

South Sámi: Gaeptie[2]

See also

References
  1. "Pikaopas saamelaiskulttuuriin". Sano se saameksi (in Finnish). Retrieved 2019-03-15.
  2. "Åarjelsaemien baakoesojjehtimmieh". gtweb.uit.no. Retrieved 2019-03-15.

Media related to Sami clothing at Wikimedia Commons

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