The local people put forward various reasons to explain why there are seven skirts: these range from them representing the seven days of the week or the seven virtues, to their connection with the number of colours in the rainbow or the seven waves of the sea. There are many theories, but the origin of the custom of wearing these skirts rests on one indisputable fact: their connection to the sea.
Whilst waiting on the beach for their husbands and sons to return from work, the women used their skirts to cover themselves: the top ones over their heads and shoulders, whilst the rest were left draped over their legs. But some say they also used their skirts to count the seven waves of the sea, after which the sea would calm down.
From an aesthetic point of view, the wearing of multiple skirts was based on the standards of feminine beauty of yesteryear, which emphasised slim waists and rounded hips. The more skirts they wore, the more rounded their hips appeared. The seven-skirt ensemble was mainly worn on festive occasions, whilst a less colourful version with fewer skirts was worn for work.
