I had to ask a few people about this answer but it seems that for the most part much of the dress for the Saxon women were hand embroidered, and this was their "jewelry." When I asked why, the answer was pretty amazing.
For the most part the Saxons, like the peasant Hungarians and Romanians, did not have much money, and what they did have was put towards taxes. The taxes were very much dependant upon the culture and when and who was ruling the country.
The Saxons were considered "outsiders' and the taxes they payed did not change much. They had lived in Transylvania for many years, but this was true for much of the time they lived in Transylvania (the same thing applied to the Teutonic Knights.) However, it was because of the taxes that the dress was done so elegantly, and it was done with a few specific things.
* When the women and men were confirmed they received a special "dress" and this would be worn on Sundays and other special days.
* This was embellished with headdresses, after the girls were married this headdress would change.
* For the older men and women, the dress code would "go black" after a certain age or once the eldest child was confirmed, which usually happened in their late 20s or early 30s.
* Because the material cost so much, they did not buy jewelry such as necklaces or ring or earrings. They would have a wedding ring, but often, it was only the wealthy in the cities or people of the nobility who wore jewels.
For the most part the Saxons, like the peasant Hungarians and Romanians, did not have much money, and what they did have was put towards taxes. The taxes were very much dependant upon the culture and when and who was ruling the country.
The Saxons were considered "outsiders' and the taxes they payed did not change much. They had lived in Transylvania for many years, but this was true for much of the time they lived in Transylvania (the same thing applied to the Teutonic Knights.) However, it was because of the taxes that the dress was done so elegantly, and it was done with a few specific things.
* When the women and men were confirmed they received a special "dress" and this would be worn on Sundays and other special days.
* This was embellished with headdresses, after the girls were married this headdress would change.
* For the older men and women, the dress code would "go black" after a certain age or once the eldest child was confirmed, which usually happened in their late 20s or early 30s.
* Because the material cost so much, they did not buy jewelry such as necklaces or ring or earrings. They would have a wedding ring, but often, it was only the wealthy in the cities or people of the nobility who wore jewels.
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