ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Sarafan

Imagine you are playing dress-up and you want to wear a really pretty dress that looks kind of like a big, baggy shirt that goes all the way down to your feet. That dress is called a sarafan.

A sarafan is a traditional Russian dress that women used to wear a long time ago. It is usually made out of a soft, flowy fabric that feels nice and cool against your skin. The dress is loose and comfortable, so you can move around easily while wearing it.

Sarafans come in lots of pretty colors and patterns. Some of them have flowers or stripes on them, while others are plain. You can wear a sarafan by itself as a dress, or you can layer it with other clothes like a shirt or a jacket.

Nowadays, not many people wear sarafans anymore, but some people still like to have them as a special kind of clothing that reminds them of their culture and history.