Out With the New, In With the Old Quiz

Answer: Thing to wear

Kimono simply means "thing to wear". Traditionally made from silk, the kimono is a full length loose robe with wide sleeves and is worn with a wide sash called an obi. They can be worn by men, women or children, and it is the design and colour of the material which is significant as it displays the wearer's status and wealth. The most depicted design is that of the crane which symbolises long life and good fortune.

Answer: Burqa

The burqa, burka or chadri, is a concealing veil which covers the whole body, with just a mesh screen to look through. These are worn by Muslim women as a sign of modesty according to their culture and religion, especially when they are anywhere near men who are not family members.

Some non-Islamic countries have either limited or banned the wearing these all-encompassing veils as they believe they are oppressive and anti-social. The niqab is a head covering which covers the lower part of the face, just leaving a narrow slit for the eyes.

The hijab is a veil which covers the head and chest, but leaves the face in full view. An abaya is a long robe-like dress worn by Muslim women.

Answer: Chullo

This hat is a familiar sight in the cold regions of Peru or Bolivia and is normally worn with the traditional poncho. They are worn by the indigenous people from the Andes mountain region to keep them warm and dry. The design and colour of the hat determines which community the wearer lives in. Since places such as Machu Picchu became popular with tourists, so did the chullo and poncho as they can now be bought in many places elsewhere in the world.

Answer: Klompen

There are many types of wooden clog around the world but the Dutch call their footwear either klomp or klompen. They are traditionally made from the wood of either poplar or willow. Apart from being popular with tourists, wooden clogs in Europe have a long history which dates back to the 13th century. They were used mainly by farmers and factory workers because of their hard protective casing and durability. Clogs made for smugglers had a reverse sole pattern, allegedly to put people, especially the police, off their scent.

Answer: Philippines

The male national costume from the Philippines consists of an upper garment called a barong tagalog. The semi-sheer shirt which is worn loose and untucked from the trousers was traditionally made from pineapple leaf fibers (pina) or banana silk (jusi). The shirt today is made from linen or cotton. Each embroidered design is different and depicts the wearers origin. The transparent material was initially chosen during Spanish rule so that the peasant who wore the shirt could prove he was not carrying any weapons. The shirt today is used for formal wear as well as informal gatherings.

Answer: The 400 pleats represent the number of years Greece was under Ottoman rule

A fustanella is a white skirt made with 400 pleats from 30 meters of cotton. It is symbolic to Greece because it represents the total number of years the country was under Ottoman rule. The skirt has been part of the Greek national costume since its independence in 1821 and is worn with a plain white shirt, embroidered vest, sash and shoes with pompoms, called tsarouhia. The costume is worn today by the Evzones, another name for the Greek Presidential Guard.

Answer: Maori

The piupiu is a grass skirt worn by the Maori people of New Zealand during special occasions including kappa haka, a traditional dance. The skirt is made from flax leaves. Before being woven together to form the skirt, parts of the leaves are stripped and then soaked in mud or a natural dye. This blackens the carved out sections which then form the pattern of the skirt. The strips dry into tubular curls and this gives a slight tinkling sound as the wearer moves.

Answer: London

Pearly kings and queens are people who live in London and their costumes date back to the late 19th century. It started when a young orphan called Henry Croft collected money for charity and on his rounds would collect discarded pearl buttons left by market traders.

He sewed these on to his jacket and was from then on known as the first pearly king. The tradition has remained whereby the costumes are always designed and made by the menfolk. Pearly designs have included horseshoes for luck, the anchor for hope, the wheel for the circle of life, and playing cards representing life as a gamble.

Answer: Vietnam

The ao dai has been worn by Vietnamese women since the 18th century. "Ao" signifies an item of clothing above the waist, and "dai" signifies something which is long. The form-fitting tunic has splits running from the waist down which form a number of panels, usually four or five in total. It can be worn with a traditional cone-shaped leaf hat called a non la. Luong Van Can Street in Hanoi, Vietnam, is the place to visit if you want to purchase an authentic ao dai.

Answer: Zill

Belly dancers originated from the Middle East and have since been popularised in places such as Egypt and Turkey. The ladies usually dance solo to the accompaniment of music, starting with circular movements of the head and shoulders, and then downwards with emphasis on the belly and hip area, building up speed all the while. The costume worn can include floaty harem trousers, jeweled bra top, coined belts and a sequined veil called a malaya. Tiny zills are attached to finger and thumb on each hand and used to emphasise the movement and beat of the dance.