The “Dolama-Nosnja” is a traditional coat from my country Montenegro, that married women wear on the day when they move to live with their husband. It is really important that they are handmade, you need to be so specific, it takes a month to make one and they are expensive. It became a part of our tradition after World War I in 1918. The reason that it started after the War is that people wanted to start everything new they were happy that they were free again so they wanted to start new traditions for celebrations. The first person that wore it from my family was my great-great-grandmother when she was 19 years old. It needs to be a gift from your husband’s family because it shows that they have respect for you and that you are welcome in their home. Today in my country some people don’t use it because they don’t care about traditions but most of them do. Before my great-great-grandmother passed away she wanted one thing from her family and that was to keep this tradition always with us no matter where we go or where we are we need to respect it. 

– E.S

Relationship:  Im/migrant Im/migrant