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What is a national Costume?

It is normally a dress which we associate with a country and its residents. It is something that they may wear everyday or only on formal occasions, but it is part of their unique identity and is usually symbolic of their culture. Most national costumes have been a part of the heritage of that nation and have been handed down from generation to generation, and are based on the kinds of fabrics available and are suited to the climate of that country.

1. Saree – India:

This is one of the most recognised costumes in the world. The prevalence of sarees as a daily wear is decreasing among the young and the affluent, as they are opting for western wear such as skirts and trousers. However in the smaller urban areas and in villages these are still the preferred outfit. In various parts of India sarees are worn in different manners and styles and the fabrics can range from cotton to silk and synthetic fabrics.

2. Kimono – Japan:

Kimono is a traditional outfit worn by men, women and children in Japan. These are traditionally made with a single bolt of fabric called the tan. Often these are hand-made and had-decorated and the materials commonly used are silk crepes, satin weaves, silk and silk brocade. It is a long, heavily patterned robe, which is held together at the waistline by a broad fabric belt known as the obi.

3. Sweden:

The Swedish national costume is very unique. It consists of a white winged hat, a long skirt with a traditional apron, a white long-sleeved blouse which is covered with a beautifully embroidered vest. Introduced in 1778 it was originally meant for the nobility of the country. Even today for formal occasions, Swedish ladies-in-waiting wear this traditional costume.

4. Deel – Mongolia:

A Deel is the traditional costume worn for centuries by the Mongols and other nomadic tribes of Central Asia. The fabric may be satin or silk or brocade, and the styling is similar to that of a kaftan . Shaped like a long overcoat, it is not buttoned in front of the body but is drawn tightly across the chest and clasped on the side with decorative clasps. A large fabric belt is the tied over the Deel.

5. Salwar Kameez – Pakistan:

The salwar kameez is a traditional outfit worn by both men and women of Punjab in India and Pakistan. The men in Pakistan wear a loose pajama and “kurta ” set  often known as the “pathan suit”. The women wear long trousers which are gathered at the waist and are narrow at the bottom. The kameez is accompanied by the  “chuni”or the  “odhni “which is wrapped across  the shoulders.

For nature lovers, a visit to a national park is always at the top of their high priority agendas. To appease them, here is a list of the top ten most visited national parks:

1. Great Smoky Mountains
Situated between North Carolina and Tennessee in USA, this park was founded in 1940. It is famous for its adventure activities which include wildlife watching, hiking, scenic drives and hikes. The most ideal time to visit this park would be spring or early summer.

2. Grand Canyon
Often included in the list of Seven Wonders of the World, the Grand Canyon is carved like a chasm over the Colorado Plateau. It is famous for its white water rafting experience which ranks at top in the world and the shifting of sun angles which leads to the changing of colors of the rocks.

3. Yosemite
Famous for its granite cliffs which make it a paradise for rock climbers, Yosemite National Park was founded in 1890. It is also renowned for its stunning waterfalls which are fed mostly by snowmelt. The best period to visit would be early May to late June.

4. Yellowstone
It was found in 1872 thus making it the first national park of USA. Its major tourist attracting features are the hot geysers and springs. It also provides shelter to elks, bison, wolves and grizzly bears. The weather can be termed as unpredictable so be prepared for thunderstorm in the summers.

5. Olympic National Park
This one is a complete package for a tourist as it offers rain forest valleys, snow capped peaks, beaches and a huge variety of flora and fauna. The best time to visit would be early summers but the weather is variable from place to place and season to season so one should be prepared in advance.

Let us examine top 10 NHL players of all time. We only considered total number of points per player as reported by the National Hockey League.

1. Wayne Gretzky – 2857 points

The Great One” was born on January 26, 1961 in Brantford, Ontario. Even at the young age, Wayne Gretzky raised many eyebrows on the ice by collecting 517 points in a season. He began his National Hockey League career when the Edmonton Oilers moved from the WHA to the National Hockey League in the 1979-80 season. Gretzky would go on to win seven straight Art Ross Trophies starting at the age of 18, and ten in total. He also led the Edmonton Oilers to four Stanley Cup Championships (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988) Gretzky played for four teams throughout his successful NHL career. (Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers) After his retirement in 1999, he was immediately inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. He became Executive Director for the Canadian national hockey team. In 2000 he took  partial ownership of the Phoenix Coyotes and head coach position thereafter.

2. Mark Messier – 1887 points

“The Moose,” was born on January 18, 1961 in Edmonton, Alberta. Mark John Douglas Messier emerged from the great Edmonton Oilers teams of the 1980s to become a hockey superstar. He was a powerful skater who combined play-making skill and a goal-scoring touch with the toughness. Six times his teams sipped from the Stanley Cup (1985, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1994) and on two occasions Messier took home the Hart Trophy as the league’s most valuable player. Mark  played for 3 NHL teams (Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks) before retiring in the summer of 2005. A year after, both the New York Rangers and Edmonton Oilers retired his number 11 in pregame ceremonies. Earlier that year, the National Hockey League created the Mark Messier Trophy, a monthly leadership award.

3. Gordie Howe – 1850 points

“Mr. Hockey” was born in Floral, Saskatchewan on March 31, 1928. Gordon “Gordie” Howe entered the NHL in 1946 played for the Detroit Red Wings and Hartford Whalers; and the Houston Aeros and New England Whalers in the World Hockey Association (WHA). A four-time Stanley Cup champion with the Red Wings (1950, 1952, 1954, 1955), he won six Hart Trophies as the league’s most valuable player and six Art Ross Trophies as the leading scorer. He was the recipient of the first NHL Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008.

4. Ron Francis – 1798 points

Ronald Michael Francis, Jr. was born on March 1, 1963 in  Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Ron played 23 NHL seasons  for 4 teams: Hartford Whalers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs. Francis was drafted by the Hartford Whalers fourth overall of the 1981 NHL Entry Draft. He was a model of consistency, averaging more than a point a game. He won 2 Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins (1991 and 1992). He retired from the NHL before the 2005–06 season and assumed a position with the Raleigh Youth Hockey Association.

5. Marcel Dionne – 1771 points

“Little Beaver” Dionne was born August 3, 1951 in Drummondville, Quebec. Marcel Dionne played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League for 3 teams: Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers. During his first NHL season for Detroit in 1972, he set an NHL record for scoring by a rookie with 77 points. In his best NHL season 1979–80 he recorded 137 points and was awarded the Art Ross Trophy for scoring two more goals than Gretzky. Dionne also won the Lester B. Pearson Award in 1979 and 1980, and the Lady Byng Trophy in 1975 and 1977. Dionne retired in 1989 and  currently resides in Niagara Falls, Canada and owns Marcel Dionne enterprises.