ЗАНАЯТИ

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LAZARUVANE (ST. LAZAR’S DAY SONGS AND DANCES)

TRADITIONS, CRAFTS AND ETHNOGRAPHY

multimedia

Grant Scheme BG161PO001/3.3-01/2008 “Support for Effective National Marketing of Tourist Product and Improvement of Information Service”, Contract No BG161PO001/3.3-01/2008 /001-5 “Multimedia Catalogue of the Tourist Sites and Electronic Marketing of

Destination Bulgaria”

This multimedia brochure is created within the framework of the project “Multimedia Catalogue of the Tourist Sites and Electronic Marketing of Destination Bulgaria”, Contract No BG161PO001/3.3-01/2008/001-5, which is performed with the financial support of Operative Program “Regional Development” 2007 – 2013,

co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund. The entire responsibility for the contents of this multimedia brochure is brought by the beneficiary – The Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism, and under no circumstances it can be considered that this multimedia brochure presents

the official position of the European Union and the Managing Body.

Operative Program “Regional Development 2007-2013 www.bgregio.eu

We invest in your future!

The project is financed by the European Regional Development Fundand the state budget of Republic of Bulgaria

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TRADITIONS, CRAFTS AND ETHNOGRAPHYLAZARUVANE

L azaruvane is an old

Bulgarian custom,

which is performed

to welcome spring. It is

celebrated on the day of

St. Lazarus - the Saturday

eight days before Easter.

Lazaruvane symbolizes the

growth of the girl – how it

gets older and transforms

from a child into a young

woman. It was considered

that a girl, who has performed

this ritual, is ready for

marriage.

Preparation for the festival

begins in the days of Easter

Lent when the dancers gather

to remember old and learn

new songs for the celebration.

No songs or dances are

allowed during Lent, and

entertainment for young

girls is limited, therefore

these meetings are greeted

with joy and fill the girls with

tremulous expectations.

The ritual is related to

various rituals. It is only

performed by girls, and in

some areas of the country,

there is a requirement for

them to be over 16 years

old.

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On the day of the feast

the girls cross the

village in groups and

sing their songs, dressed in

beautiful national costumes or

bride outfits, borrowed from a

recently married bride. The girls

adorn themselves with various

ornaments - mostly jewelry,

coins, flowers and feathers.

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TRADITIONS, CRAFTS AND ETHNOGRAPHYLAZARUVANE

There is a belief that every home,

where the girls – Lazarki - have

sung, will enjoy health and

fertility during the next year.

The girls meet on the morning of the

day of St. Lazarus in the house of a

girl which is chosen for their leader.

From there, at noon, starts the

journey of the group, which crosses

the whole village and sings while

visiting the houses in the village.

For each family member the girls

choose a special song from their

repertoire, which corresponds to

their age and position in the family

and society. The grateful hosts give

the girls small gifts, mostly eggs,

money, flour.

Meanwhile another group of

singers crosses the fields and

gardens and sings songs for

fertility and good harvest.

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TRADITIONS, CRAFTS AND ETHNOGRAPHYLAZARUVANE

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The culmination of the

feast is the so-called

Lazar dance. All girls,

who participated in the rituals

during the day, gather and

dance in front of the married

women and the single men in

the village.

At this dance the men choose

their future brides and the

married women - their

daughters-in-law.

In essence the day of St. Lazar

is a spring festival of the

fertility and love. It is one of

the brightest and long-awaited

holidays in Bulgaria. In many

villages the traditions are

respected even nowadays, and

on the day of Lazarus, by all

rules of the ritual, the local girls

sing songs about love, sunshine

and flowers.

Excellent reproductions

of the ritual are annually

conducted in AEC

Etara museum and the

architectural reserve

Bozhentsi - with many

songs, dances and other

attractive rituals.

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TRADITIONS, CRAFTS AND ETHNOGRAPHYLAZARUVANE

Grant Scheme BG161PO001/3.3-01/2008 “Support for Effective National Marketing of Tourist Product and Improvement of Information Service”, Contract No BG161PO001/3.3-01/2008 /001-5 “Multimedia Catalogue of the Tourist Sites and Electronic Marketing of

Destination Bulgaria”

This multimedia brochure is created within the framework of the project “Multimedia Catalogue of the Tourist Sites and Electronic Marketing of Destination Bulgaria”, Contract No BG161PO001/3.3-01/2008/001-5, which is performed with the financial support of Operative Program “Regional Development” 2007 – 2013,

co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund. The entire responsibility for the contents of this multimedia brochure is brought by the beneficiary – The Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism, and under no circumstances it can be considered that this multimedia brochure presents

the official position of the European Union and the Managing Body.

Operative Program “Regional Development 2007-2013 www.bgregio.eu

We invest in your future!

The project is financed by the European Regional Development Fundand the state budget of Republic of Bulgaria