Bulgarian National Folklore

Project “European Multiguide” 2012 - 2014

Bulgaria is a small European country with a rich folklore history and traditions.

During the centuries different groups of people have gradually added their specific characteristics.

Nowadays we have a great variety of different folk costumes, songs, dances and musical instruments.

There are seven ethnographic folklore regions:● Dobrudja

● North Bulgaria ● Sofia region- Shopluk

● Thrace ● Strandja

● Pirin● Rhodopes

Each region has its own folk features.

DobrudjaNorth Bulgaria

Shopluk

Thrace

Strandja

Pirin Rhodopes

Bulgarian National

Costumes

Folklore costumes are

always embroidered with colourful figures

of shapes, animals and birds, many

flowers. Different regions have their

own patterns, braids, sequins.

Man’s folk costume is traditionally white or dark brown or black.

It consists of pants, a cotton shirt with long sleeves,

a typical elek - a kind of vest, a belt and a hat.

The shoes are made of leather. The coat is called yamurluk.

Some examples of man’s shirt and elek ( vest ) from different regions

Woman’s folk costume traditionally includes a long blouse like a dress, a skirt, an apron or two aprons - front and back, a dress called

saya, a belt, a handkerchief for the head, and leather shoes.

Women wear a lot of accessories like pafti - for the belt,

kosichnik for the hair

and pendari – necklace.

Women’s folk costumes from different regions

Variety of folk costumes

Typical Bulgarian folk instruments and music performed by them:

Gadulka - a bowed string

Instrument.

Kaval – an end-blown

flute

Gaida – a traditional

goat-skin

bagpipe

Tambura – a metal strings

type of lute

Tapan – a large drum worn over the shoulder

Bulgarian folk songs and dances

Folk dances are various according to the region they represent.

Some are fast and playful, others are slow and steady.

The most difficult are the Shoppe and Pirin dances.

The most popular and loved dances are: the Thracian horo, the Danube horo, Elenino horo

and Rachenitsa.

Examples of typical Bulgarian folk dances

Elenino horo

Petrunino horo

Typical folk song called “Little young woman was gathering flowers”

presented by BG pupils team

The original song’s link

Thank you for your attention!!!

In the presentation are used photos from the sites: www.horo.bg, www.balkanfolk.bg, nosii.bg.