(ST. LAZAR S DAY SONGS AND DANCES) Operative Program Regional Development We invest in your future!

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1 TRADITIONS, CRAFTS AND ETHNOGRAPHY multimedia LAZARUVANE ЗАНАЯТИ (ST. LAZAR S DAY SONGS AND DANCES) Operative Program Regional Development We invest in your future! The project is financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the state budget of Republic of Bulgaria 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 , 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.

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3 TRADITIONS, CRAFTS AND ETHNOGRAPHY LAZARUVANE Lazaruvane 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. 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. 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. 3

4 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. 4

5 TRADITIONS, CRAFTS AND ETHNOGRAPHY LAZARUVANE 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. 5

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8 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. 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. 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 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. 8

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10 Operative Program Regional Development We invest in your future! The project is financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the state budget of Republic of Bulgaria 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 , 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.