LAZAROUVANE
LAZAROUVANE
This is an old custom typical of all regions on Lazaritsa - St Lazarus' Day, Saturday of Lazarus.
It is of Slav origin and its symbolic meaning is associated with fertility, as well as with love and marriage.
Particular attention was paid to dress: festive and beautiful, with superb heavy ornaments.
The costumes are specially made for this festival and usually have many elements of bridal attire.
The lazarouvane consists of a string of ritual games, dances and songs trained in advance by the young Lazarus girls (lazarki) during the long days of Lent.
The maids would go round the neighbourhood and sing songs at each house wishing the people there rich crops and abundance.
The ritual's varieties are numerous, their differences lying in the celebration of Saint Lazarus' Day itself (eight days before Easter).
The common tradition, however, is the coming out of marriageable girls.
After taking part in the Lazaritsa dances the maid was allowed to start preparing for her wedding.
A popular belief had it that a young man who had not been koledar or kouker, and a maid who had not been lazarka should not get married.
Getting married and setting up a home has always been an essential part of the Bulgarians' mentality and way of life.
In old times, people believed that the richer rituals devoted to marriage were a more powerful guarantee of happiness, long life and a house full of children.
