Romania Celebrates Traditional Embroidered Shirt Day, Recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage
On 24 June, Romania celebrated the World Embroidered Romanian Shirt Day, dedicated to the traditional embroidered shirt called ia. This day is celebrated in more than 60 countries and 130 localities and is annually included in the list of museums and cultural institutions in Romania and abroad, including embassies and diplomatic missions.
Ia is a white shirt with a colourful ornament. The embroidery details indicate the area of origin. Local researchers and historians claim that its roots go back to the Dacian civilisation. Ancient bas-reliefs depict Dacians wearing long-sleeved tunics.
Initially, the blouse was made of linen, hemp and wool, and later - of cotton or silk. The shirt is decorated with embroidery, mainly on the sleeves, chest, and neck. Its three distinctive features are the collar, the cut and structure of the pattern, and the insertion of the sleeves.
Apart from this day, Romanians, both women and men, most often wear their ia on national holidays or when going to church.
On 1 December 2022, the Romanian national embroidered shirt was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
"Queen Mary, following the example of Queen Elizabeth, introduced the traditional Romanian costume to the Royal Court. Until then, the ladies of Romania's high aristocracy were dressed only by large European fashion houses and believed that traditional clothing was only for peasants to wear," designer Isabela Mandoi told BTA.
The oldest Romanian ia, made 229 years ago in Transylvania, was exhibited at the Dacia Romania Palace in the old centre of Bucharest in early 2024.
In May, Ukraine celebrated World Vyshyvanka Day, the national embroidered garment.