Lidia PETROVA (Varna, Bulgarie)

HEALTHY ELEMENTS IN BULGARIAN SPRING FOLK CUSTOMS

Diseases h a v e accompan ied m a n d u r i n g the cen tu r i e s fol lowing h is en t i r e h i s to r ica l deve lopment . Tha t ' s w h y m a n h a s a lways looked for a way h o w t o res i s t t h e m a n d h o w to p ro t ec t himself . The w a y s a n d m e a n s of hea l ing a r t a r e in t h e closest possible connec t ion a n d dependency on t h e c u l t u r a l level of t h e epoch, on t h e exis t ing knowledge , c u s t o m s , t e c h n i q u e a n d o t h e r oppor tun i t i e s .

The Bu lga r i an people have a lways been consc ious of t h e s ignif icance of h e a l t h for h u m a n beings a n d a n i m a l s . Tha t ' s w a y t h e pu rpose of m o s t of t h e people 's c u s t o m s is t u r n e d to s t r e n g t h e n i n g of h e a l t h a n d to i m p r o v e m e n t of fert i l i ty. W h a t e v e r w o r k is begun, w h a t e v e r event is ce l eb ra t ed d u r i n g t h e year , B u l g a r i a n people don ' t m i s s to wi sh one-ano ther : « To y o u r h e a l t h ! » At t h e t i m e of t r e a t i n g f r iends a n d on o t h e r s o l e m m occas ions w e a lways wi sh each o t h e r : «To y o u r h e a l t h ! » F o r t h e g r e a t e s t self complacency a n d r e a s s u r a n c e t o t h e o t h e r s a r e the w o r d s : « E v e r y t h i n g wil l be all r i gh t a n d wil l be forgot ten , if only t h e r e is hea l th . » A n u m b e r of folk bel iefs , c u s t o m s a n d r i t ua l s a r e ded i ca t ed t o gua rd ing , s t r e n g t h e n i n g a n d p rese rv ing the h e a l t h of o u r people. Bu lga r i an c u s t o m s of t h e spr ing cycle of c a l e n d a r ho l idays ref lect t he n a t u r a l happy p r e s e n t i m e n t of t h e a w a k e n i n g of N a t u r e . All forces in it a w a k e for n e w life a n d t h a t ' s w h y s o m e c o m m o n o r m o r e persona l w i shes for hea l th , fer t i l i ty, p rosper i ty , family a n d pe r sona l happ iness a r e expressed . One of t h e bas ic purposes of t h e spr ing c u s t o m s is to s e c u r e h e a l t h t o t h e f a r m e r a n d h e r e c o m e t h e n u m e r o u s folk r i t ua l s t h a t a r e he ld for i t s a t t a i n m e n t .

The ear l ies t Bu lga r i an spr ing hol iday is Trifon Zarezan , ce l eb ra t ed above all by m e n — vine-growers , t avern-keepers a n d g a r d e n e r s . On th i s day t h e c u s t o m « c u t t i n g » t a k e s place, m e a n t a lso for m e n w h o h a v e n o ch i ld ren . S u c h a m a n cal ls a ba rbe r t o shave h i m . After being shaven , h e is cu t w i t h t h e s h a r p b l a d e of t h e r azo r in t h r e e spots of t he neck . I t is bel ieved t h e n t h a t th is m a n is s u r e t o h a v e ch i ld ren .

E n t i r e dwel l ings h a v e been o v e r r u n by p lague o u t b r e a k s in t h e pas t . So ou t of fear « P lagueday » w a s ce leb ra ted on Feb rua ry , 10th. I t co incides w i t h t h e ho l iday of t h e Chr i s t i an Sa in t H a r a l a m p i i , w h o keeps p lague in cha ins o r s h u t s in a bo t t l e accord ing to people 's concep t s . Only w h e n h e le ts it out , i t causes d a m a g e s . Sa in t H a r a l a m p i i is p a i n t e d on icons , bea t ing a n d t o r t u r i n g p lague . On th is day w o m e n k n e a d r o u n d loaves , c o a t e d w i t h honey a n d c a r r y t h e m a b o u t for hea l th . S o m e of t h e honey is kep t t h r o u g h o u t t h e yea r as a cu re . Fo r c o n s t a n t reconci l ia t ion w i t h t h e p lague , people n e v e r m e n t i o n i ts n a m e , b u t cal l i t « t h e good o n e » , « a u n t » , « t h e sweet -honeyed one ».

In the people 's ho l iday c a l e n d a r « V l a s o v d e n » (Vlasovday) is c e l e b r a t e d for t he h e a l t h of t he h o r n e d ca t t l e a n d sheep — no t to be s t r u c k by t h e dead ly d i sease

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« vlas ». The h e a l t h of t h e d o m e s t i c a n i m a l s is a s vi tal ly necessa ry , as t h e h e a l t h of people is . According to t h e people t h e d i sease « v las » is c a u s e d by t i ny h a i r s t h a t c o m e in to ex is tence in a n i m a l s ' i n t e s t ines . To p r o t e c t a n i m a l s f rom it, f a r m e r s c a r r y r o u n d to t he i r ne ighbour s w a r m r o u n d loaves coa ted w i t h honey a n d t r e ac l e ear ly in the m o r n i n g . Everybody b r e k s off t h e r o u n d loaf a n d wi shes good hea l th . In s o m e places people even j u m p so t h a t a n i m a l s should be qu ick .

The so cal led « Pessi P o n e d e l n i k » (Dog Monday) is ce leb ra ted in spr ing . On th is day a hygienic c u s t o m t a k e s p lace — c leaning t h e d ishes of t h e fat . In t h e m o r n i n g d o m e s t i c dogs a r e t o r t u r e d in o r d e r to chase a w a y t h e rab ies , t h a t t hey m i g h t have c a u g h t d u r i n g t h e w i n t e r . An e m p t y t in is t ied t o t h e dogs tai l a n d it r u n s c h a s e d by i ts j ang l ing . Also s t i cks a n d s tones a r e t h r o w n a t it . And t h e dog is s w u n g o r w h i r l e d too qu ick ly to c a t c h rab ies . I t is cons ide red t h a t t h e dog, t h a t h a s been s w u n g is c u r e d a n d it w o n ' t c a t ch rab ies . As in all o t h e r cases in t h e Bu lga r i an folk m e d i c i n e t h e bea t ing a n d the t o r t u r i n g of t h e c u r e d one is in fact t o r t u r i n g a n d chas ing away t h e d i sease .

Ano the r ho l iday ded i ca t ed to the hea l th of d o m e s t i c an ima l s , especial ly to t h e ho r ses is « Todorovden » (Sa in t Todor ' s day) . The ce lebra t ion on th i s day is aga ins t t h e ho r se d i sease « g u t u r a c h » a n d to r e a s s u r e t he i r b r eed ing . Y o u n g b r i d e s w h o h a v e been m a r r i e d d u r i n g t h e w i n t e r ce leb ra te on th i s day too, in o r d e r to give b i r t h to ch i ld ren . I n every h o u s e r i t u a l b r e a d is k n e a d e d for h o r s e s ' sake , a n d « k o l a t s i » ( r ing-shaped cakes ) for t he b r ides . T h e r ing-shaped bun h a s usua l ly the shape of a h o r s e shoe o r r e p r e s e n t s a smal l h o r s e w i t h or w i t h o u t a r i d e r on it. S o m e of t he dough is pu t as ide , be ing d r ied a n d p re se rved to be u s e d as a c u r e . S o m e of th is dough is pu t in t h e ho r se s ' g ra in w h e n they ca t ch t h e m o s t d a n g e r o u s h o r s e d isease « g u t u r a c h ». T h e r i t ua l b r e a d is c a r r i e d about for t h e h e a l t h of ho r se s . The one w h o b r e a k s it off usua l ly p r o n o u n c e s a b less ing : « Let h o r s e s be hea l thy a n d alive, let t h e m breed a n d mul t ip ly ! » Maize a n d lent i ls a r e boiled, b e a n s a n d o t h e r seeds a r e a d d e d to it a n d th i s m i x t u r e is pu t in the g r a i n o r in the b r a n of t h e ho r ses to be hea l t hy a n d alive. T h e r e a r e h o r s e r aces on th i s day . Everybody w h o h a s a h o r s e m u s t t a k e it ou t a n d r ide it by all m e a n s in o r d e r t o keep it f rom ge t t ing sick.

One of t he m o s t r e spec ted spr ing ho l idays t h a t is c h a r a c t e r i s t i c for t h e e n t i r e Bu lga r i an e thn i c c o m m u n i t y is « Si rn i Sagovezni » ( the f irs t S u n d a y before Len t ) . T h e c u s t o m « h a m k a n e » ( t r ay ing to c a t c h w i t h t h e m o u t h only) t akes p lace a f te r supper . A coal, a n egg a n d s o m e cheese a r e t ied t o a c ross -beam by a t h r e a d a n d then they a r e swung . Eve rybody t r i es to ca t ch t h e coal, t h e egg a n d t h e cheese w i t h h is m o u t h . After t h e « h a m k a n e »-custom some of t h e coal is p r e s e r v e d as r e m e d y aga ins t t he evil eye. T h e w h i t e of t he egg is ea ten , a n d t h e yolk of t he egg a n d the cheese a r e p re se rved as a cu re aga ins t s o m e ch i ld r en ' s d i seases a n d s o m e l a m b d i seases . At t h e e n d t h e t h r e a d is se t on fire. People w a i t t o see if i t wil l b u r n o u t o r if i t wi l l die ou t in the midd le . If t h e t h r e a d b u r n s o u t t h e r e will be fert i l i ty, h e a l t h a n d all w i shes wil l c o m e t r u e ; if it doesn ' t b u r n ou t , d i sease a n d fa i lure a r e expected . T h e r e a r e swings on th is day a n d everybody shou ld be swayed for h e a l t h a n d aga ins t rab ies . Big f i res a r e bu i l t in t h e even ing on the S u n d a y before Len t a n d people j u m p over t h e m in o r d e r t o b a n i s h a w a y evil sp i r i t s a n d h a r m f u l sma l l a n i m a l s . Young m e n t h r o w a w a y fiery a r r o w s p repa red be fo rehand special ly for t h i s day . While t h r o w i n g t h e a r r o w s away , t hey o u t s p e a k wi shes for h e a l t h to t h e p a r e n t s , re la t ives , t o t h e i r beloved.

e .g . : « Cur-cur, d e a r fa ther , t h i s one is t o y o u r h e a l t h ! »

If t he a r r o w flies high, t h e one it w a s n a m e d for wil l live long a n d b e hea l thy . T h e r i tua l fire, w i t h i ts p revent ive , an t i -demonic force aga ins t d i seases , evil sp i r i t s a n d sma l l a n i m a l s , t a k e s a n i m p o r t a n t place a m o n g t h e c u s t o m s on t h a t day .

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On the f irs t day before Len t c u s t o m s w i t h m a s k e d pa r t i c ipan t s — t h e « k u k e r s » — t a k e place in di f ferent reg ions of Bu lga r i a . The ca rnava l c u s t o m s , c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e a g r a r i a n w a y of life of t h e Bu lga r i an people, a r e s a t u r a t e d w i t h a lot of m a g i c for fer t i l i ty a n d h e a l t h . T h e fer t i l iza t ion symbo l i sm of t hose c u s t o m s is c lear ly expressed by a n u m b e r of e l e m e n t s w i t h phal l ic qual i ty . Th i s symbo l i sm is c h a r a c t e r i s e d too by t h e fact t h a t w o m e n , whose ch i ld ren of ten fall ill o r die, give the i r low-cut s leveless d re s ses to k u k e r s to p u t t h e m on a n d t o play for hea l th . Chi ldless w o m e n w h o long for ch i ld ren do t h e s a m e . An often m e t ritual m a s k is t he doc to r ' s one , w h o ca r r i e s different r e m e d i e s in a bag . K u k e r s roll on t h e g r o u n d for hea l th , in o r d e r to get v i ta l i ty f rom t h e e a r t h . Pre­vent ive qual i t ies ban i sh ing a w a y every so r t of w i c k e d n e s s a r e asc r ibed to t h e sound of t he bel ls , w h i c h t h e k u k e r i w e a r on t h e be l t s .

The belief in one indef in i te evil in N a t u r e t h a t a w a k e s in sp r ing too , exis ts in the t r ad i t i ona l Bu lga r i an folk cu l tu re . Usual ly it is cal led a w i c k e d n e s s , s o m e people define it as a d i sease . The r ed colour is cons ide r ed as a m e a n s aga ins t th i s w i c k e d n e s s or d isease . T h a t ' s w a y on M a r c h , 1st r e d ap rons , be l t s , rugs a n d y a r n a r e sp read on v e r a n d a s a n d over t h e fence . This d a n g e r t h r e a t e n s mos t l y y o u n g s t e r s (chi ldren , l ambs , k ids , calves , foals) ; t h a t ' s w a y on M a r c h , 1st a r ed t h r ead , cal led « m a r t e n i t z a » is t ied on ch i ld rens w r i t s a n d on a n i m a l s ' n e c k s . L a t e r people began to tw i s t t oge the r r ed a n d w h i t e t h r e a d s , so t h a t t h e pe r son w h o w e a r s t h e m a r t e n i t z a w o u l d b e h e a t h y a n d p re t ty « w h i t e a n d r e d » , t o a n s w e r the e s the t i c ideal of t h e people. The m a r t e n i t z a is w o r n b y ch i ld ren ti l l t h e s t o r k s a n d swal lows a r r ive , a n d t h e n it is pu t u n d e r a s tone a n d on t h e nex t day people p red ic t t h e fu tu re hea l th accord ing to w h a t a n i m a l or th ing is found bes ide it .

The folk hol iday « Mladenzi » is d e d i c a t e d to smal lpox. On th i s day w o m e n k n e a d r i t ua l b read , d e c o r a t e d w i t h g r a in s l ike the d i sease smal lpox. Sma l l r o u n d loaves coa ted w i t h honey a r e c a r r i e d abou t for t h e h e a l t h of ch i ld ren a n d l a m b s . On t h e Annunc ia t i on day acco rd ing to t h e folk e tymology, people expect every­th ing they begin t h a t day to c o m e ou t successful ly. The voice of t h e b a r n o w l foretel ls h o w m a n y years t h e pe r son t h a t h a s h e a r d it will live. People p r ed i c t f u tu re h e a l t h a f te r t h e sign in t h e c lo th they have left o n t h e roof. The abun­d a n c e p r o m i s e s c o n s t a n t h e a l t h a n d sa t i s fac t ion . The jangl ing , shoot ing a n d bu i ld ing of r i t ua l fires b a n i s h d i seases a n d smal l a n i m a l s a w a y f rom h o m e . On Annuncia­t ion day hygienic c u s t o m s t a k e place — people sweep t h e houses , t h e y a r d s , t h e g a r d e n s a n d b u r n the rubb i sh . While t h e fire b u r n s , y o u n g m e n j u m p bare foo ted over it a n d s inge the i r feet no t te be b i t t en by w i c k e d n e s s .

One of t he m o s t poet ic t r ad i t i ona l ho l idays — « l aza ruvane » ( r i t ua l dances a n d songs for hea l th , happ iness a n d fert i l i ty on Sa in t Lazar ' s day) is connec t ed w i t h spr ing. The lazark i ( the gir ls fulfilling t h e r i tua l of Sa in t Lazar ' s Day) sing for h e a l t h a n d happ iness , give b less ing to t h e m e m b e r s of t h e family, foretel l for th­c o m i n g m a r r i a g e s . The fol lowing day is P a l m S u n d a y . E a r l y in t h e m o r n i n g young m e n a n d m a i d e n s go to the m e a d o w s a n d w o o d s t o pick f lowers . Every­body t akes sanct i f ied wi l low b r a n c h e s f rom chu rch , b r ings t h e m h o m e a n d p re se rves t h e m . If someone in the family falls ill, t he se wi l low b r a n c h e s a r e se t on fire a n d t h e s ick pe rson is s m o k e d w i t h t h e m . If a chi ld is a v i c t im of t h e evil eye, i ts eyes a r e w a s h e d w i t h w a t e r in w h i c h t h e wi l low b r a n c h e s w e r e pu t . These c u s t o m s a r e connec t ed w i t h the belief in the m a g i c power of t h e f resh p icked up g r een twig t o t r ans f e r i ts v igor to m a n .

E a s t e r is t h e g r ea t e s t ho l iday in spr ing . On Holy T h u r s d a y s eggs a re deco ra t ed . The egg plays a very i m p o r t a n t role in t h e beliefs, r i t ua l s a n d c u s t o m s of t h e Bu lga r i an people. Wi th a n egg a r e m u m b l e d i n c a n t a t i o n s aga ins t t h e evil eye, d i f ferent d i seases a r e c u r e d w i t h an egg, w i t chc ra f t c an be p rac t i s ed o r spoilt w i t h an egg. On th i s day in s o m e regions t h e yea s t is r e n e w e d by k n e a d i n g s o m e cura-

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t ive he rbs in t h e dough . P a r t of th i s « n e w » yeas t or « f resh » yeas t is p r e se rved a s a r e m e d y aga ins t d i seases for t h e coming year . I n s o m e d i s t r i c t s of Bu lga r i a on th i s day ch i ld ren go f rom h o u s e to h o u s e a n d give a b u n c h of wi ld g e r a n i u m m e a n t for t he h e a l t h of t h e hos t s , a n d t h e h o s t e s s p r e s e n t s t h e m w i t h a w h i t e egg a n d a s i lver coin each. On E a s t e r people c r a c k r e d eggs a n d foretel l : T h e pe r son w h o s e egg is t o u g h e r is going to b e h e a l t h i e r d u r i n g t h e c o m i n g year . In the after­noon all t h e m a i d e n s in t h e vi l lage go u n d e r a b r a n c h y t r ee a n d swing for h e a l t h . The swingings a n d t h e h o r o s ( r ing dances ) a r e pe r fo rmed aga ins t t h e « b a d d i sease » (epilepsy) a n d aga ins t smal lpox too . T h a t ' s w a y bo th young w o m e n a n d ch i ld ren t a k e p a r t in t h e s e swingings a n d everybody sees t h a t h e o r she is s w a y e d on th is day. The swinging is a r i t ua l m a g i c ac t ion des igned as a p revent ive m e a n s aga ins t d i seases .

One of t he m o s t cheerful a n d gay ho l iday is « Gerg jovden » (Sa in t George 's day ) . On the eve of Sa in t George 's day a n e t t l e spr ig is n a m e d for each m e m b e r of t he family a n d i t is left on t h e roof. I n the m o r n i n g people p red ic t t h e f u t u r e acco rd ing to i t s g r eennes s — the pe r son w h o s e sprig h a s faded is going to be ill du r ing the y e a r o r is going to die soon a n d the one whose sprig is fresh is going to be hea l thy . One can p red ic t t h e fu tu re for h e a l t h o r d i sease w i t h t h e help of a root of wi ld g e r a n i u m p u t on t h e c ross -beam for each m e m b e r of t he family. After a w e e k t h e g e r a n i u m is t a k e n d o w n a n d people p lan t it . L a t e r they look w h i c h p lan t h a s t a k e n roo t or not a n d accord ing ly they j u d g e if t h e pe rson will be ill o r hea l t hy du r ing t h e year . In t h e m o r n i n g of Sa in t George 's day old a n d young people p o u r w a t e r , in w h i c h he rbs h a v e been boiled, over each o t h e r for hea l th . The people w h o keep on fall ing ill a r e t a k e n to h a v e a b a t h in « left w a t e r s » on th is day. The « left w a t e r » is wide ly used in t h e Bu lga r i an folk med ic ine . The left m o v e m e n t h a s b e e n t a k e n as a mag ic sign of t he spr ing r e g e n e r a t i o n a n d of every r e s t o r a t i o n to life. If it r a in s on Sa in t George 's day everybody goes ou t in t h e r a i n or w a s h e s h i s eyes w i t h th is w a t e r , b e c a u s e it is bel ieved to h a v e hea l ing effects. The scabby people roll n a k e d on the d e w for the folk belief tel ls t h a t they a r e going to b e cu red by th i s m e a n s . The d e w of th is day is g a t h e r e d in bo t t l es to be used as a r e m e d y d u r i n g the coming y e a r ; h e r b s a r e g a t h e r e d too. A w i d e s p r e a d belief is t h a t t h e m o s t cu ra t i ve h e r b s a r e t hose g a t h e r e d on Sa in t George 's Day, on En jovday ( M i d s u m m e r Day) a n d d u r i n g t h e M i d s u m m e r Week. Once again for h e a l t h ear ly in the m o r n i n g on Sa in t George 's Day everybody is being we ighed a n d swayed on swings t h a t a r e t ied on a g reen t r ee . At t h e t i m e of t h e sway ing t h e younger gir ls bea t the o lder gir ls w i t h a ne t t l e o r a g reen s t ick to get m a r r i e d d u r i n g the c o m i n g year . This c u s t o m h a s a hea l thy a n d fert i l izing funct ion .

On Sa in t George 's Day for t h e f irs t t i m e in spr ing a l a m b is bu t ched . The ch i ld ren a r e m a r k e d on t h e fo reheads w i t h t h e l a m b s blood, g a t h e r e d in a pot, no t to be v i c t ims of a n evil eye, to be hea l thy a n d r e d ; t he door sill a n d t h e door itself a r e m a r k e d w i t h t h e blood too for it is believed t h a t blood keeps d iseases a n d wi thc ra f t away f rom t h e house . In genera l t h e l a m ' s b lood plays a very i m p o r t a n t role in the folk beliefs. 5-6 ne t t l e spr igs a re pu t in t h e pot w h e r e t h e b lood is ga the r ed . The ne t t l e is p rese rved as a r e m e d y . W h e n a n « u n c l e a n » chi ld is born , i.e. a chi ld covered w i t h p imples , it is w a s h e d w i t h w a t e r in w h i c h s o m e of th i s ne t t l e w a s pu t a n d the p imples d i sappear . If t h e l a m b is b lack t h e blood is p reserved , because it is cu ra t ive . W h e n s o m e o n e h a s acne t h e face is r u b b e d w i t h th i s b lood a n d t h e p imples d i sappear . I n folk beliefs t he r e d co lour of blood h a s a m e a n i n g of ban i sh ing a w a y t h e evil sp i r i t s a n d secur ing h e a l t h a n d a b u d a n c e .

I n t h e beg inn ing of May E r e m i y a Day is ce lebra ted aga ins t snakes a n d l izards . According to t h e folk beliefs t h e s n a k e possesses a sec re t power . I t k n o w s a r e m e d y for every d i sease a n d t h e p o w e r of all h e r b s . The a p p e a r a n c e of a s n a k e in a y a r d o r in a house is cons ide red a s a n o m e n of d e a t h o r d i sease a n d t h a t ' s

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w h y on E r e m i y a Day t h e c u s t o m « chas ing of snakes a w a y » t akes p lace . The s n a k e is very m u c h afra id of fire a n d t h e symbol ic chas ing away f rom the y a r d is h e l d w i t h the help of a pa i r of f ire-tongs a n d a poke r — the i n s t r u m e n t s w i t h w h i c h one s t i r s t he fire. On th is day s ich w o m e n a n d t hose w h o have no ch i ld ren go o u t to t h e fields a n d roll n a k e d on t h e d e w before sun r i s e . The m a i d e n s a n d t h e young m e n go to the fields to g a t h e r wi ld gar l ic a n d they ea t it in o r d e r no t to be b i t t en by a s n a k e o r if a s n a k e b i tes t h e m , no t to be poisoned. They pick f lowers , pu t t h e m in a pot of w a t e r a n d t h e n they w a s h the i r h e a d s w i t h t h e w a t e r i n o r d e r no t to h a v e a h e a d a c h e . They d r i n k for h e a l t h f rom t h e d e w t h a t is g a t h e r e d in a bowl on th is day. The folk m e d i c i n e po in t s ou t E r e m i y a Day a s t h e m o s t f avourab le t i m e for cu r ing t h e goi t re . The s ick pe r son goes to t h e fields a n d ca r r i e s a s m a l l bone kep t f rom t h e Sa in t George 's Day l a m b ; t h e go i t re i s p r o d d e d w i t h t h e bone a n d t h e n being left on an u n k n o w n g rave ; t h e s a m e person swal lows sma l l s tones . H e o r she ca r r i e s an egg too a n d g ra ins of mi l le t ; t h e t h r o a t is t o u c h e d a r o u n d w i t h the egg a n d the pe r son p ronounces : « When a ch icken is h a t c h e d f rom th i s egg, w h e n th i s mi l le t g rows a n d th i s ch i cken pocks it, t h e n m y goi t re will g row. » T h e n t h e egg is bur ied , t h e mi l le t is t h r o w n a n d the pe rson comes back to t h e vil lage. B u t eve ry th ing m u s t be done in g r e a t secre t , for if s o m e o n e sees o r l e a r n s t h a t t h e r e wil l be n o c u r e for t h e pe r son .

According to folk ideas on « S p a s o v d e n » (Ascension Day) t h e top of t h e fairy he rb fraxinel la falls down . I t h a s h igh cu ra t i ve qual i t ies for different i n c u r a b l e d i seases . T h a t ' s w h y on the eve of t he ho l iday t h e d isabled people a r e t a k e n ou t of t h e village, in the open a i r to special spots w h e r e t h e f raxinel la g r o w s . The re they leave a r o u n d loaf of b r e a d for t h e m e r m a i d s , t he wood n y m p h s w h o pass in t h e n igh t leaving tokens showing w h e t h e r t h e d isabled people a r e going to be c u r e d o r a r e going to die . In o r d e r to get c u r e d t h e people b a t h e in t h e d e w in t h e m o r n i n g a n d g a t h e r t h e he rb fraxinel la , w h i c h is especia l ly cu ra t ive , if it is g a t h e r e d on Ascension Day. I t is be l ieved t h a t t h e s ick pe r son m u s t r u n away f rom the fairy p lace before sun r i se in o r d e r t o leave t h e d i sease beh ind h i m , b u t if h e is sti l l t h e r e af ter sun r i s e he is no t going to be cu red . I t is pa r t i cu l a r ly i m p o r t a n t t h a t eve ry th ing shou ld be done in s i lence.

A w idesp read c u s t o m in Bu lga r i a for people suffering f rom chron ic a i l m e n t s is t o spend a n igh t on a ce r t a in hea l ing spot du r ing the M i d s u m m e r Week in o r d e r t o get c u r e d o r l ea rn a r e m e d y for the i r d i sease . Among t h e Bu lga r i ans a belief exis ts t h a t m e r m a i d s h a r m people, bu t a t t h e s a m e t i m e they can c u r e t h e m as well . These beliefs have c r e a t e d a whole s y s t e m of in t e rd i c t ions a n d of r i t ua l a c t s hav ing the purpose of p rese rv ing people f rom t h e m e r m a i d s , a n d a t t he s a m e t i m e u s e t he i r cu ra t ive power . W o m e n b r ing h o m e w o r m w o o d , w a l n u t foliage, os ie rs t w i g s a n d p u t t h e m on t h e beds a n d on the floor a t h o m e . E v e r y m a i d e n , w o m a n a n d chi ld m u s t c a r r y s o m e w o r m w o o d . I t is be l ieved t h a t it p rese rves people f rom d i seases a n d m e r m a i d s .

And despi te t h e p r e c a u t i o n s a n d m e a s u r e s , if somebody falls ill d u r i n g t h e M i d s u m m e r Week, it is sa id t h a t t h e m e r m a i d s « h a v e r u n in to h i m ». I t is bel ieved t h a t h e h a s s topped on t h e spot w h e r e m e r m a i d s ea t o r w h e r e they go. T h a t ' s w h y people avoid to w a l k t h r o u g h the fields a n d fores t s w i t h o u t fol lowing a pa th . They a r e careful no t to fall down, no t to b e in ju red o r to get ill. F o r abou t a p e r s o n , t h a t falls ill du r ing t h e M i d s u m m e r Week is sa id t h a t h e is n o t going t e be c u r e d ; if he i sn ' t c u r e d d u r i n g the M i d s u m m e r Week h e is going to die before the nex t one . They t ry to c u r e h i m by m u m b l i n g i ncan t a t i ons , h e is s m o k e d w i t h f raxinel la , o r w a s h e d w i t h w a t e r in w h i c h t he re is fraxinel la . I n Bu lga r i a m e r m a i d - g a m e s a r e organized d u r i n g the M i d s u m m e r Week too. T r a i n e d a n d skillful m e n t a k e p a r t in t h e m . They c u r e t h e s ick people w h o m t h e he rbs , t h e p r a y e r s a n d t h e so rce resses h a v e not he lped a n d abou t w h o m is sa id t h a t they 've got t h e « wood n y m p h ' s » o r

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« m e r m a i d ' s » d isease . I t is bel ieved t h a t n o d i sease will e n t e r t h e vil lage a n d especial ly t h e house w h e r e t h e « russa l i i » h a v e played.

The Bu lga r i an spr ing c u s t o m s a r e gay a n d cheerful , e n r i c h e d by a lot of songs a n d g a m e s . Once upon a t i m e t h e Bu lga r i an people bel ieved t h a t w i t h those c u s t o m s a n d songs i n t e rwoven w i t h t h e m , they wou ld m a k e N a t u r e merc i fu l a n d benevolent to the i r l abour a n d life. E v e r y t h i n g t h a t is done d u r i n g these ho l idays poin ts to good ca re for secur ing h e a l t h a n d abudancy . T h e w i d e s p r e a d use of f lowers , g reen twigs symbol izes the m a g i c un ion w i t h t h e v i ta l i ty of t h e vege ta t ion . T h e or ig inal m e a n i n g of t h e d e c o r a t i n g a n d w i n d i n g th ings , a n i m a l s or people, w i t h vege ta t ion h a s served to t r ans fe r t h e fer t i l i ty a n d the power of t he b r a n c h e s in full b loom a n d th ick w i t h leaves to m a n a n d to every th ing . S u c h is t he prin­cipal m e a n i n g of t he s w a y i n g d u r i n g the m o s t of t he spr ing ho l idays — to t r a n s f e r t he power of t h e t r ee to m a n . The swaying is a r i tua l by m e a n s of w h i c h force a n d hea l th a re t r a n s f e r r e d to t h e body. The pour ing of w a t e r , in wh ich he rbs h a v e been boiled, is c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e r e n e w i n g power of t h e vege ta t ion a n d t h e fa i th in the m a g i c power of w a t e r . The s t a t e m e n t s t h a t one can b e hea led af te r a b a t h o r a w a s h m u s t be accep ted as hav ing a hea l ing effect by m e a n s of auto­sugges t ion . The Bu lga r i an people believe in t h e cu ra t i ve qual i t ies of t he w a t e r a n d fire.

Except t he m a g i c p r ac t i s ed for t h e accep t ion of N a t u r e ' s vi ta l i ty , t h e people have exper ienced the pro tec t ive m a g i c too ; t he one t h a t h a s to p rese rve m a n f rom s o m e bad ou t s ide effects, c aused by people, sp i r i t s , o r wood n y m p h s . The pre­vent ive a n d a n t i d e m o n i c m e a n i n g of the r i t ua l fire plays an i m p o r t a n t role in t h e Bu lga r i an spr ing c u s t o m s . The h i t t i ng a n d the deco ra t ion w i t h f lowers o r g reen twigs h a s a p revent ive funct ion too, following t h e pr inciple of c o m p a c t n e s s a n d the t r an s f e r r i ng of t h e qual i t ies f rom one object to a n o t h e r in o r d e r to let people get t he power a n d vigor of spr ing vege ta t ion .

The concern about m a n ' s h e a l t h is expressed in t h e ho l idays of t h e spr ing c a l e n d a r cycle. People p red ic t fu tu re h e a l t h a n d life du r ing m o s t of t he ho l idays . The k u k e r s d a n c e for h e a l t h a n d to p rese rve everybody f rom evil spi r i t s , people w e a r m a r t e n i t z a s , w o r m w o o d , w a l n u t foliage a n d follow ce r t a in in t e rd ic t ions . E v e r y r i t u a l ac t a n d giving ou t b less ings h a s t h e purpose of inf luencing favourably on N a t u r e a n d people to gain fer t i l i ty a n d hea l th .

Literature

1. D. MARINOV. — Selected works, v. I, S., 1981, p. 487-649. 2. Ch. VAKARELSKI. — Ethnography of Bulgaria, S., 1974, p. 608-612. 3. M. ARNAUDOV. — Bulgarian folk festivals, S., 1943, p. 54-132. 4. M. VASSILEVA. — Dobrudja, S., 1974, p. 316-336. 5. E. TEODOROV. — The Ancient Thracian heritage in Bulgarian folklore, S., 1972, p. 11-71. 6. M. ARNAUDOV. — Articles on Bulgarian folklore, S., 1969, p. 324-332. 7. M. ARNAUDOV. — Studies on Bulgarian rituals and customs, v. II, S., 1972, p. 128-215.

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