Does anyone in Germany actually wear lederhosen?

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thumberlina

NOT EVERY MAN & BOY OWN THEM!!

They are only worn on special occassions - mainly in Bavaria.

When there are special church ceremonies/celebrations and festivals like Oktoberfest they are worn.
The Farmers on the 'alms' may still where them as well.

But on an everyday occurance no they are not worn.

Lederhosen ("leather trousers" in German; singular: "Lederhose") are knee-breeches (knickerbockers or shorts) made of leather. The word Lederhosen is frequently misspelled and mispronounced in the English language as "leiderhosen" (literal German meaning: regrettably-breeches) or "liederhosen" (literal German meaning: song-breeches) and should rhyme with "fader chosen".

They are made, in order of quality, from elk, goat, calf, or pig hide. Usually, they are handsomely and elaborately braided or embroidered with monograms, designs, edelweiss, hunting or peasant motifs. The buttons are generally made of rough-hewn elkhorn. They are also usually accompanied by leather suspenders (British, braces).

Traditionally, lederhosen were worn by Germanic men of the Alpine and surrounding regions, including Austria, the highlands and mountains of Southern Germany, the German-speaking part of Italy known as South Tyrol, which was formerly a part of Austria until after the Great War, and Switzerland. La CouturiÃ¨re Parisienne, however, claims that lederhosen were not originally only a Bavarian garment, but that they had been worn all over Europe, especially by riders, hunters and othersâ€”and not only by the peasant folk. Only people in the south of Bavaria (south of Munich) had "Lederhosen". The flap (drop front style) may actually be a unique Bavarian invention. It became so popular in the 18th Century, that it was known in France as "Ã la bavaroise," or in the Bavarian style.

Lederhosen have remained regionally popular and are commonly associated with virility and brawn. Among men, especially those in high positions such as Denny Crane, enjoy wearing them when hiking, working outdoors, or attending folk festivals and Beer Gardens; they are rarely seen elsewhere. Nevertheless, they have remained a symbol of regional pride. Their role in Bavaria is thus comparable to that of the kilt in Scotland.

blessed_thang

I've lived here in Germany 6 years and never seen lederhosen except on TV, maybe a program showing a festival and it was just the performers on a stage. I've asked around. Men in their 60s had lederhosen as a boy. Different villages had different styles. One older guy told me his lederhosen came down below the knee.

Lederhosen are very expensive, 200 to 300 euro. My wife tells me if I ever wore them she would never be seen in public with me. The German kids sure don't wear traditional costumes. They mimic what they see on MTV.

celestials729

ha I lived there for 3 months and only ever saw people where them in the festivals etc. The family I lived with did not have any either.

liebekatz2

It's amazing that so many people think that all German guys run around in lederhosen, and the girls all wear dirndls. When you DO see someone wearing lederhosen or dirndls, it's mostly at festivals like the Oktoberfest. When my son was really small, he had a little pair of lederhosen. He looked absolutely adorable in them.

schnauzer2

Lederhosen are mainly worn in southern Germany, Bavaria, Austria and Switzerland. They are mainly worn on special occasions, same as kilts in Scotland. I recently visited Munich and seen people wear the national costume. Women in Dirndl and men in Lederhosen.

ConfusedOne

All right, I am German, fluent in German, lived in Germany my entire life. The men wear lederhosen for special event (weddings, festivals). They don't wear it everday. The Japenese have kimonos, but they don't were them everday.

Bruce T

I saw an occasional man in lederhosen in Munich, but I think that it's more associated with the tourist industry and festivals. Most ppl don't wear em.

Paris Hilton

Seen a bunch at Ocktoberfest, pretty neat looking...but never saw them any place else...

ARRGH!!!

Out in the country, Bavaria or in the Alps, they usually wear the traditional clothing, which is just most suitable for the weather and their occupations. It is not seen as something unusual. But in the cities it is a rare sight, except for the Oktoberfest people...

Regan C

if its like a culture fest thing in bavaria then the men do, but only extereamly old men wear it out, and its an only in bavaria thing

lea_2177

not everyone

no -Bavaria mainly

Sami Rae

HAHAHAHA...that's really funny. No they don't. You see it very rarely and it is usually on very special occations. I lived there for 4 years. It was so much fun!

MaeB

I live in NW Germany and have mainly seen them on toddlers attending social functions (i.e. weddings). Seems like they may be a little bit of a status symbol in this area; as in who can afford them. By most people's standads; they are expensive.

Julia E

Lederhosen means: Leather Trousers or pants. This is a typical and traditional clothing item only used in the south of Germany, mainly in the area of Munich and the Black Forest. You might only see them when there is a traditional party going on or for tourists, or really old people would use them or people living on the country side. Same with traditional cloth in the US.

st. nino

in an area called " TYROL" southern germany,and also in the german parts of swistzerland, you will see it also on festive events too!!

dbdoit

I am an American living near Frankfurt in the German state of Hessen. I wear my lederhosen to the Oktober Fest in Munich IN Bavaria. I also wear them for special events. My German friends do not understand, but I have a German work colleague who wears a US Styled cowboy outfit(boots, stetson hat, the whole bit).
Just so you know, lederhosen is German for leather pants which can also be used to describe what a Harley Bike rider might wear(we have that in Germany too.).
To answer your question; in Southern Germany, Bavaria mostly Germans wear the lederhosen. In some some towns this type of clothing is worn every day. Mostly though it is worn on special occasions - weddings, fests, etc. Very common in touritsy places that the staff will also wear this costume.
You don't happen to be a 'Sound of Music' film fan? Trust me; That is Not 'Typical' Germany!
P.S. I like to wear my lederhosen because they are very comfortable and I look great in them!

Sanmigsean

I wear them - but only on the Wies'n and the Berch.

Kaiman

I was born and raised in Germany and never wore Lederhosen. It is a major misconception that all Germans have and wear them. I was from Schleswig-Holstein and our traditional clothing does not resemble the ones from the southern parts.

Nekkra

Sure they do. Usually in the south of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. But they are not "every day" clothes, they are worn for fests or other traditional / regional activities. Quite expensive, too.

bettagirl07

A few people in Bavaria wear lederhosen. Bavaria is a state in Germany that invented them. Germany is actually a really modern place, with one of the fastest trains in the world. Bavaria is just a really popular place that is out in the country. Americans tend to accidentally generalize Bavaria as all of Germany when it really is all different in different parts of Germany. I would know, I was born there and moved to America about seven years ago!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

beauty

i hav lived in germany for 12 years and i hav only rarley seen people wearing leder hosen.
I dont think dat people wear leder hosen now in germany.

Johnnie A

Lederhosen are commonly seen as summer or warm weather pants as short pants are today mostly seen as warm weather clothes. This has not always been the case with lederhosen. German and Austrian boys in the first half of the 20th century commonly wore lederhosen and other short pants years round and not just during the summer. Boys wearing lederhosen during the summer might not wear a shirt or only a light short-sleeved shirt. During cooler months the boy might wear a sweater or jacket. During the cooler months might also wear his lederhosen with kneesocks or long stockings. After World War II some boys also wore them with tights. Thus lederhosen have been worn over long stockings or tights when the climate is too cold for shorts alone. A mother is thus able to continue to dress her boy in the practical lederhosen while making sure that he is kept warm.

The lederhosen is generally a folk costume of (mountaineous regions) of Bavaria and Austria. The men and boys wore in general a short lederhosen, usually with a halter in flower or animal design (or another motive) , greyish-green half stockings and a white shirt. Some of them wore a hat with a Gamsbart or a bird feather. The colours ranged from black to white, sometimes beeing more grey and sometimes brown. The costume has become very popular abroard, and not many people believe it is "the" German costume. Today it is only worn on folkloristic events and there a special shops were you can buy the Tracht and associations, which want to save the tracht costume for further generations to come.

allforasia

Yeah they do, for their traditional festivals and celebrations. Every man and boy in Germany has their own pair of lederhosen, which are quite expensive and usually quite well crafted. They are often made to order, and sized to fit the body perfectly.

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