FOLKLORE MAGIC AT "ETAR" MUSEUM

FROM THIS YEAR ON THE ETHNOGRAPHIC OPEN-AIR MUSEUM "ETAR" INTRODUCES
A NEW MOMENT IN THE SUPPLY OF ITS TOURISTS' PRODUCTS.
ON PRIOR REQUEST YOU HAVE THE POSSIBILITY TO OBSERVE
THE FOLLOWING DEMONSTRATIONS (RESTORATIONS) OF CUSTOMS AND RITES
FROM THE FOLK CALENDAR AT THE APPOINTED BY YOU TIME.

      WEDDING RITES

      The wedding is an old-time Bulgarian family rite that regulates the relations among the new couple and the other two family related groups. It is characterized by festive atmosphere full of great variety of ritual songs and dances. The Bulgarian traditional wedding is vital and rich of ritual activities that are meant to ensure happiness, lots of children and property status to the young couple. There are a great number of spectacular-entertaining elements in the content of the wedding ritualism that bring it nearer to the folk drama and turn it into an unforgettable experience for the whole village group.
      On the territory of the ethnographic open-air museum "Etar", upon the request of the relevant tour operator, separate moments of the wedding ritual, characteristic of the Gabrovo region, will be shown. It will be full of plenty of music and dances, attended by the corresponding ritual stage-property and national costumes.

            DURATION OF THE PRESENTED CUSTOM ON THE MUSEUM TERRITORY: 20 MINUTES

      CHRISTMAS RITUAL "KOLEDUVANE"

      Christmas is one of the biggest holidays in the year and the richest-as regards the ritualism-winter holiday. It coincides with the beginning of the New Solar Year and it is full of magical activities and practices that are aimed at the economic and family welfare.
      "Koleduvane" (Singing Christmas carols) is one of the most entertaining and vital elements of the feast day. The participants in this custom are young men, dressed in traditional festive costumes and with special decoration on their fur caps. They go round all the houses in the settlement and sing special songs (carols) that actually are ritual wishes for health, happiness in the family and rich crop in the fields and gardens.
      The Christmas blessing, said by the leader of the young men, is a verbal magic for health of the householders and prosperity in the house through the coming year.
      The hosts gifted the group of men (koledari) with ritual loafs of bread, meat, bean, dried fruit, tow, etc.

            This ritual ends in common feast DURATION OF THE PRESENTED CUSTOM ON THE MUSEUM TERRITORY: 20 MINUTES

      LAZARUVANE AND KUMICHENE -
      TWO SPRINGTIME FERTILITY HOLIDAYS, PERFORMED ON ST.LAZAR'S DAY (8 DAYS BEFORE EASTER) AND PALM SUNDAY

      The springtime holidays-St. Lazar's Day and Palm Sunday-are among the most poetic and beautiful lassie's holidays, dedicated to the flowers, love and fertility. They are part of the Easter ritual cycle, connected with the renewal of nature and resurrection of life. Lassies-at the age of 12 to 15-dressed in festive clothes with bride's jewels and baskets in their hands, go from house to house and perform a song-wish to each member of the family. Their songs are sort of verbal magic for health, fertility and rich harvest. They are ones of the most poetic songs of love-marriage character from the Bulgarian folklore. The housewife gifts the girls with money, flour and obligatory a fresh egg-symbol of the beginning of life and cyclic recurrence in nature.
      On the following day-Palm Sunday-the lassies get together by the river and each of them throw in the water a wreath of willow twigs that symbolizes the spring revival. The lassie, whose wreath comes first, will marry first through the coming year.
      The spring lassies' holidays that are presented on the museum territory are full of music, songs and dances; the participants are dressed in festive costume and use the necessary festal property.

            DURATION OF THE PRESENTED CUSTOMS: 30 MINUTES

      WORKING-BEE

      The working-bee is the most widespread and favourite kind of a meeting and entertainment among the young people. All the dates, liking and falling in love among the young happen at this event. Very often the lad chooses his bride there.
      The working-bees are organized at lassie's houses in the evening when they have finished their house and field work. At these gatherings each lassie brings a piece of work with her as spinning, knitting, sewing, etc. The lassies begin singing loud that is a sign for the young men that they may join the party. Each of them sits next to the lassie he likes and the jokes and teases start. There songs of love and teasing character are sung, the house wife treats the guests to fruit, cooked corn, etc. It occurs frequently a lad to steal a lassie from the working-bee and to take her home for his bride.
      The working-bees start at the end of summer, after the Virgin Mary's Day on the 28th of August, when the hard field work is already done and continue to spring-time.