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Text | Dialect Group | Tokens | Length | Lines | Synopsis of Thematic Content |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Glavanovci 1 | Transitional / Trŭn | 1062 | 7:18 | 132 |
bread from different grains • reaping, threshing & winnowing practives • construction of "wattle-harrow" • memories of childhood |
Iskrica 3 | Northeastern: Sub-Balkan | 1122 | 8:18 | 116 |
personal narrative of childhood and becoming shepherd • details of sheepherding and of lambing • St. George’s Day customs • treating sick animals • shepherds’ traditional clothing |
Baskalci 1 | Southwestern / Petrič | 1758 | 13:54 | 308 |
Sheep-rearing, milking, shearing; names of sheep at different stages of growth; training of a lamb’s horns |
Glavanovci 2 | Transitional / Trŭn | 518 | 3:10 | 84 |
village priests then and now • christening practices • men’s and women’s work in the fields • maintenance of mowing implements |
Baskalci 2 | Southwestern / Petrič | 405 | 3:11 | 80 |
marking ownership of individual sheep |
Glavanovci 3 | Transitional / Trŭn | 495 | 3:15 | 70 |
head-coverings to protect against sun • personal narrative of thunderbolts killing sheep • folk practices both to ward off hail and storms, and to bring on rain |
Tŭrnjane 1 | Northwestern / Vidin-Lom | 204 | 2:34 | 59 |
history of the village’s name; reaping and threshing |
Bosnek 1 | Southwestern / Kjustendil | 678 | 10:53 | 143 |
reminiscences of childhood and early days of marriage • wedding rituals • narrative of travels to Europe and hosting visitors from there • observation of cultural differences |
Tǔrnjane 2 | Northwestern / Vidin-Lom | 299 | 3:43 | 92 |
growing and processing hemp; swingling, carding fulling, and weaving; weaving according to patterns |
Bosnek 2 | Southwestern / Kjustendil | 312 | 7:18 | 53 |
Christmas customs |
Salaš | Transitional / Belogradčik | 1935 | 14:45 | 292 |
personal history - agriculture practices - health issues |
Bosnek 3 | Southwestern / Kjustendil | 349 | 5:41 | 76 |
christening a child • wedding customs • complaints about theft of grave adonrments |
Bela 1 | Northwestern / Vidin-Lom | 1451 | 10:26 | 165 |
humorous personal narrative about animal raising in retirement |
Bela 2 | Northwestern / Vidin-Lom | 145 | 1:31 | 41 |
discussion of where Torlak dialect is spoken |
Rajanovci 2 | Transitional / Belogradčik | 844 | 6:54 | 96 |
cheese-making, pride in recipe for making cheese |
Rajanovci 1 | Transitional / Belogradčik | 747 | 5:55 | 90 |
personal history of life before and during collective ownership |
Breste 1 | Northwestern / Bjala Slatina - Pleven | 719 | 6:26 | 136 |
housework, details of spinning and weaving |
Stoilovo 2 | Eastern Rupic / Strandža | 474 | 3:00 | 86 |
Details of threshing and winnowing |
Breste 2 | Northwestern / Bjala Slatina - Pleven | 489 | 4:00 | 100 |
interpretation of the weather; work in the fields, threshing and winnowing |
Breste 3 | Northwestern / Bjala Slatina - Pleven | 568 | 4:05 | 96 |
work bees; spinning by moonlight; distinction between work bee and work party |
Dolna Sekirna 1 | Transitional / Trŭn | 241 | 2:58 | 67 |
how children’s names are chosen • humorous tale about the christening of a child |
Dolna Sekirna 2 | Transitional / Trŭn | 858 | 7:52 | 152 |
founding of collective farms and other socialist regime elements and their subsequent destruction; narration of the informant’s sister’s experience as a maid in Sofia and her own as a migrant field worker |
Iskrica 1 | Northeastern: Sub-Balkan | 672 | 6:04 | 75 |
personal narrative of wedding • wedding and betrothal customs • |
Dolna Sekirna 3 | Transitional / Trŭn | 660 | 5:51 | 123 |
milking goats and sheep, making cheese; hunters and their prey; village celebrations |
Iskrica 2 | Northeastern: Sub-Balkan | 658 | 4:19 | 66 |
rich people vs. poor people • tobacco growing and processing • schooling in the old days |
Momčilovci | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Smoljan-Široka Lŭka | 215 | 1:52 | 23 |
personal narrative of life as a migrant worker |
Godeševo 3 | Western Rupic / Čeč | 133 | 0:53 | 20 |
discussion of who in the village knows most about the old days • threshing practices |
Vŭrbina 4 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Zlatograd | 1126 | 9:06 | 136 |
founding of the village • sowing practices • plowing • reaping practices • threshing practices • work transporting cargo • sowing and harvesting lentils • use of barley as grain and as heating packs • sheep herding • customs when building • local trees as forage for animals • local celebrations • wedding customs |
Godeševo 4 | Western Rupic / Čeč | 152 | 1:03 | 21 |
threshing practices • absence of vineyards in the region |
Vŭglarovo 1 | Eastern Rupic / Thracian | 587 | 3:38 | 147 |
bread making in communal ovens |
Vŭrbovo 1 | Transitional / Belogradčik | 533 | 5:27 | 65 |
narration of a folktale |
Vŭglarovo 2 | Eastern Rupic / Thracian | 653 | 4:34 | 172 |
reaping and threshing practices • storing of grain |
Vŭrbovo 2 | Transitional / Belogradčik | 288 | 2:27 | 64 |
superstitions about local magic |
Vŭrbovo 3 | Transitional / Belogradčik | 214 | 1:52 | 32 |
narrative about proposed marriage between local girl and a Turk which was prevented by ambushing the wedding party |
Arčar 1 | Northwestern / Vidin-Lom | 345 | 1:59 | 56 |
personal narrative about details of farm work and hiring Romanian workers to help |
Žitnica 1 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Pavlikani | 110 | 0:44 | 10 |
how hard one worked in the old days |
Arčar 2 | Northwestern / Vidin-Lom | 192 | 1:10 | 42 |
differences between local and imported potatoes and grapes (for wine) |
Žitnica 2 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Pavlikani | 103 | 0:52 | 11 |
gardening practices |
Žitnica 3 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Pavlikani | 220 | 1:15 | 22 |
personal narrative about how speaker’s son was failed in school because she did not have enough grain to pay as tax |
Babjak 1 | Western Rupic / Razlog - Babjak | 244 | 1:26 | 31 |
bread-baking procedures |
Vŭrbina 1 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Zlatograd | 378 | 2:53 | 54 |
threshing practices • keeping of sheep in summer pasture • how far away village men went to get outside work |
Godeševo 1 | Western Rupic / Čeč | 142 | 0:57 | 20 |
description of a woman’s work day |
Vŭrbina 2 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Zlatograd | 430 | 3:10 | 69 |
sowing, harvesting and cooking lentils • cows and their young • plowing • personal narrative about baking bread for the municipality |
Vŭrbina 3 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Zlatograd | 721 | 5:07 | 107 |
banitsa recipe • planting potatoes • men’s work vs. women’s work • lament of physical inability with age • planting, harvesting, and stringing tobacco • description of a wooden plow • structure of old-time houses |
Eremija 2 | Southwestern / Kjustendil | 288 | 2:40 | 51 |
rain dances, prayers, and other customs connected with rain-making • discussion of the current drought |
Gigen 2 | Northwestern / Bjala Slatina - Pleven | 254 | 2:05 | 36 |
workbees and courtship in the old days • length of wedding celebration • corn-harvesting and sheep-keeping • Easter and village celebration |
Golica 4 | Northeastern: Eastern Balkan / Erkeč | 107 | 1:04 | 17 |
discussion of God’s role in the presence or absence of rain |
Huhla 4 | Eastern Rupic / Thracian | 282 | 2:07 | 36 |
sowing practices • discussion of current drought |
Eremija 3 | Southwestern / Kjustendil | 355 | 3:17 | 78 |
herding animals as a child • details of bread-making |
Golica 5 | Northeastern: Eastern Balkan / Erkeč | 1095 | 7:55 | 106 |
complex narrative about the kidnapping of a group of Bulgarian workers in Libya and their liberation, and the ability of a local fortune teller to predict this liberation |
Huhla 5 | Eastern Rupic / Thracian | 310 | 2:35 | 44 |
fasting practices • Easter customs • beliefs about why certain foods are avoided during fasts |
Belica 1 | Southwestern / Ihtiman | 756 | 5:44 | 137 |
reaping practices as a migrant worker • personal narrative about one reaper's inability to keep up with the others |
Eremija 4 | Southwestern / Kjustendil | 327 | 2:55 | 61 |
attempts to protect domestic animals from attack by [European] polecat |
Repljana 2 | Transitional / Belogradčik | 793 | 5:21 | 118 |
preparing food for village celebrations • personal narrative about a strike when officials of a neighboring region were brought in to forcibly change the structure of traditional St. George’s Day celebrations |
Golica 6 | Northeastern: Eastern Balkan / Erkeč | 227 | 1:54 | 40 |
narration of personal history and difficulties of living alone in old age |
Huhla 6 | Eastern Rupic / Thracian | 535 | 2:51 | 109 |
lively argument between two village women about current politics and who is at fault for the rise in costs following the fall of the socialist government |
Belica 2 | Southwestern / Ihtiman | 937 | 8:09 | 190 |
threshing practices • sowing practices • different sorts of grain • baking of different breads |
Eremija 5 | Southwestern / Kjustendil | 749 | 6:25 | 129 |
personal narrative of life with late husband • desire to join him in the other world |
Repljana 3 | Transitional / Belogradčik | 353 | 2:48 | 65 |
setting up the loom to weave homespun, fulling it, and taking it to the tailor who makes various garments from it • weaving of woolen bags • shearing of sheep |
Kozičino 1 | Northeastern: Eastern Balkan / Erkeč | 848 | 7:30 | 166 |
difference between now and then as concerns earning a livelihood, making vs. buying fabric and clothing, quality of food; insects (lack of fireflies due to insecticides vs. ubiquitous presence of mosquitoes) • sleeping in the fields during harvest and being bit by mosquitoes • making of goat-hair rugs • fulling of the thick homespun used to sew men’s trousers. |
Belica 3 | Southwestern / Ihtiman | 733 | 5:30 | 140 |
how cheese and butter are made |
Eremija 6 | Southwestern / Kjustendil | 377 | 2:37 | 95 |
details of threshing • humorous narrative of scolding by mother |
Kozičino 2 | Northeastern: Eastern Balkan / Erkeč | 143 | 1:12 | 15 |
construction of tasseled vests, from the time the sheep are shorn to the completely woven (and tasseled) vest. |
Oborište 1 | Northeastern / Western Balkan : Panagjurište | 749 | 6:08 | 178 |
kneading and baking bread • making quickbreads in the baking dish ("podnitsa") • hearths in older houses • two-floored older houses • sheep pasturing • cheese making • butter making |
Oborište 2 | Northeastern / Western Balkan : Panagjurište | 504 | 4:40 | 130 |
role of young girls in celebration of Palm Sunday (as “Lazar singers”) and Easter • rain-making customs including singing of songs by “vaydudulki” • criteria for selecting the “vaydudulka singer” |
Mogilica 5 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Smoljan-Široka Lŭka | 447 | 5:12 | 167 |
discussion of language issues (usage of three-way definite article) with examples |
Izgrev/Var 1 | Northeastern: Eastern Balkan / Erkeč | 176 | 2:09 | 23 |
personal narrative about work in the collective farm, loss of husband due to death in a fall, and resulting problems with pensions |
Mogilica 4 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Smoljan-Široka Lŭka | 269 | 1:57 | 36 |
Bayram customs • religious beliefs |
Gorna Krušica 1 | Southwestern / Petrič | 826 | 6:26 | 164 |
how weddings were held in the old days, the foods served, the custom of gifting, and customs observed when a bride comes to her new home • customs of christening • discussion of other possible informants in the village |
Gorno Vŭršilo 1 | Southwestern / Ihtiman | 416 | 2:49 | 55 |
contrast of then and now as to work in the garden and fields • type of animals kept • bread-baking practices followed by brief narrative about bringing home-baked goods to the collective farm • wedding customs |
Izgrev/Var 2 | Northeastern: Eastern Balkan / Erkeč | 235 | 0:47 | 14 |
threshing practices • description of a day’s work |
Bangejci 1 | Northeastern: Central Balkan | 423 | 4:45 | 86 |
personal reflections on the old days • agricultural practices |
Kolju Marinovo 4 | Northeastern: Sub-Balkan | 420 | 4:08 | 81 |
description of threshing practices and implements • showing a swaphook to the field team |
Mogilica 6 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Smoljan-Široka Lŭka | 303 | 4:56 | 91 |
making, baking, and storing bread • plowing • transport of goods by mule-cart |
Gorna Krušica 2 | Southwestern / Petrič | 171 | 1:12 | 40 |
baking bread in the old days • personal narrative of how children worked from an early age |
Gorno Vŭršilo 2 | Southwestern / Ihtiman | 525 | 3:50 | 77 |
garden work • threshing practices • personal narrative about husband, children and grandchildren • sowing practices • animal husbandry |
Rakovski | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Pavlikani | 400 | 3:09 | 46 |
personal narrative about coming to settle in the region as migrant workers • humorous narrative of an how an outsider discovered that belief about Bulgarian Catholics – that they are cannibals – was mistaken • counting from one to ten • personal narrative about marriage and in-laws |
Bangejci 2 | Northeastern: Central Balkan | 352 | 4:30 | 80 |
old-time spinning bees • spinning practices |
Kolju Marinovo 5 | Northeastern: Sub-Balkan | 410 | 3:29 | 85 |
preparation of food for village celebrations • lament about current drought • discussion of water sources and fetching of water by hand in the old days |
Mogilica 1 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Smoljan-Široka Lŭka | 464 | 4:16 | 111 |
spinning practices • types of wool depending on part of sheep’s body • former names of neighboring villages • personal narrative about marriage, widowhood, remarriage, and children |
Gorna Krušica 3 | Southwestern / Petrič | 202 | 1:29 | 51 |
personal narrative of weaving for marriage dowry and not being able to finish for lack of wool, and of riding a mule into town for the first time |
Graševo | Central Rupic: Rhodope: Velingrad | 415 | 5:02 | 135 |
personal history • how girls worked in the old days • preparation of a dowry • processing of wool once sheep are shorn |
Brŭšljan 1 | Eastern Rupic / Strandža | 750 | 6:12 | 99 |
sheep-keeping in the days of collective farms • other animals kept • musical instruments played by shepherds • how sheepfolds are made, and how sheep are fed in the winter |
Brŭšljan 2 | Eastern Rupic / Strandža | 75 | 0:34 | 8 |
how water buffalos wallow in puddles • description of one particularly active water buffalo |
Kolju Marinovo 6 | Northeastern: Sub-Balkan | 317 | 2:51 | 65 |
bear trainers, how they capture and train up bears and use them to raise money in visits to various villages |
Mogilica 2 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Smoljan-Široka Lŭka | 117 | 0:55 | 18 |
food preparation, especially banitsa |
Dolno Draglište 2 | Western Rupic / Razlog - Babjak | 121 | 0:43 | 13 |
Easter celebrations |
Brŭšljan 3 | Eastern Rupic / Strandža | 302 | 2:11 | 46 |
seasonal work in the fields • merry-making on days of rest |
Kolju Marinovo 1 | Northeastern: Sub-Balkan | 364 | 2:46 | 84 |
bread-making practices |
Mogilica 3 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Smoljan-Široka Lŭka | 572 | 4:55 | 118 |
sowing practices • threshing practices • recipe for sugar-beet molasses • collectivization then vs. inadequate property restitution now • feeding and milking cows |
Garvan 1 | Northeastern: Moesian | 1201 | 8:56 | 215 |
wedding customs • unsuccessful attempts to pass on dowry items to younger more modern girls |
Brŭšljan 4 | Eastern Rupic / Strandža | 383 | 3:08 | 67 |
swaddling a child after birth • which trees mistletoe grows on • musical instruments played by shepherds • swinging on a carousel in Burgas |
Leštak 1 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Zlatograd | 567 | 4:12 | 88 |
high prices and cost of transport • personal narrative about life as a truck driver • high prices for food • roasting animals on the spit |
Gradec 2 | Northwestern / Vidin-Lom | 324 | 2:05 | 44 |
humorous narrative about another’s attempt to kidnap a child and the reasons why the attempt failed |
Kolju Marinovo 2 | Northeastern: Sub-Balkan | 300 | 2:11 | 97 |
reaping and threshing practices • invitation to members of field team to try for themselves |
Bansko | Western Rupic / Razlog - Babjak | 1654 | 13:24 | 307 |
recipes for banitsa and "Bansko kapama" (stew) • slaughtering of a pig and making of sausages • personal narrative about the healing power of rendered pig fat • Christmas meals • details of weaving tasseled rugs |
Hvojna 1 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Hvojna | 486 | 3:06 | 56 |
milking sheep and making various products from the milk • "zaguveznite" customs (prior to beginning of Lent) • wedding customs |
Garvan 2 | Northeastern: Moesian | 186 | 1:16 | 33 |
narrative about the theft of iron girders near the village |
Zabernovo | Eastern Rupic / Strandža | 297 | 2:00 | 43 |
how fences are made • threshing practices |
Leštak 2 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Zlatograd | 362 | 4:42 | 98 |
coming of the collecting farms • sowing, reaping, threshing practices • metaphysical observations about life |
Gradec 1 | Northwestern / Vidin-Lom | 1008 | 6:05 | 129 |
lively personal narrative about severe illness caused by allergy to a medication, the complications of recovery, and the distrust of modern medicine |
Kolju Marinovo 3 | Northeastern: Sub-Balkan | 295 | 2:16 | 73 |
continuation of description of reaping and threshing practices |
Drabišna 1 | Eastern Rupic / Thracian | 529 | 4:42 | 103 |
personal narrative of injury • old days vs. now • details of silkworm-keeping |
Hvojna 2 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Hvojna | 368 | 2:38 | 42 |
sowing and harvesting of lentils and of grains • threshing practices |
Izgrev/Car | Eastern Rupic / Strandža | 112 | 1:26 | 20 |
work bees and the types of recreation that followed them |
Leštak 3 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Zlatograd | 1096 | 16:08 | 422 |
detailed discussion of farming vocabulary • reaping and threshing practices • description of particular implements (grate, sickle, swaphook) • plowing practices • detailed discussion of the structure of a traditional plow and names of its parts |
Drjanovec 1 | Northeastern: Moesian | 690 | 5:43 | 77 |
personal narrative about the death of informant's mother, her father's remarriage, and the family's adjustment to life with a stepmother |
Golica 1 | Northeastern: Eastern Balkan / Erkeč | 77 | 0:40 | 12 |
lament about old age |
Huhla 1 | Eastern Rupic / Thracian | 590 | 4:11 | 86 |
hard times in the old days, including eating bread made from broom branches and going to school barefoot • the contrast of food then (simple but healthy) and now (chemically treated) • gardening practices |
Drabišna 2 | Eastern Rupic / Thracian | 1184 | 8:45 | 181 |
recited text of a folk song • narration of a folktale |
Hvojna 3 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Hvojna | 100 | 0:38 | 11 |
threshing practices |
Malevo/Asg 1 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Hvojna | 616 | 5:03 | 105 |
sowing and harvesting of lentils • threshing practices • cooking lentils • recipe for yogurt • Easter customs • old-time “paraliya” tables for children • reaping practices • shearing sheep |
Malevo/Asg 2 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Hvojna | 842 | 9:06 | 97 |
personal narrative about wood-carver’s craft: harvesting wood from different trees, loading it to bring back • churning milk • reaping practices • threshing practices • mowing practices • dancing as a young man • making staves for barrels |
Čokmanovo 2 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Smoljan-Široka Lŭka | 182 | 1:42 | 23 |
gathering mushrooms • work in the fields • carrying loads |
Drjanovec 2 | Northeastern: Moesian | 661 | 4:41 | 69 |
personal narrative about a woman’s difficulties in marrying off her son, and satisfaction with her eventual daughter-in-law |
Golica 2 | Northeastern: Eastern Balkan / Erkeč | 161 | 1:30 | 45 |
size of houses in the old days • discussion of field team having come to the village on foot over a sizeable distance in the heat |
Huhla 2 | Eastern Rupic / Thracian | 770 | 5:32 | 112 |
continuation of contrast between then and now • narrative about an errant schoolteacher • discussion of whether parents allowed girls to go to school and what they did when not at school • spinning practices |
Malevo/Asg 3 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Hvojna | 338 | 2:13 | 55 |
difficulties of a woman’s life: making all the food at home before (and after) traveling long distances on foot (to harvest or to fetch water) |
Gigen 1 | Northwestern / Bjala Slatina - Pleven | 142 | 1:28 | 16 |
hardships in time of war (1912-1918) • reaping practices |
Golica 3 | Northeastern: Eastern Balkan / Erkeč | 781 | 5:18 | 177 |
spinning practices • curiosity about field work • prayer in the old days vs. now • lively discussion between two village women about rain and rain-making prayers |
Huhla 3 | Eastern Rupic / Thracian | 568 | 3:40 | 61 |
narrative about reactions of particular villagers to the imposition of collective farms |
Godeševo 2 | Western Rupic / Čeč | 70 | 0:29 | 8 |
swaddling practices, and perceived success (children are tall healthy men) |
Eremija 1 | Southwestern / Kjustendil | 661 | 6:22 | 150 |
schooling (or lack of) as a child • discussion of field work practices • herding animals as a child • problems of the current drought |
Široka Lŭka | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Smoljan-Široka Lŭka | 369 | 2:42 | 50 |
recollection of working the fields as children • courting at spinning bees • recitation of courting song text • mention of harvest songs • personal narrative about life as a new bride and mother |
Dolno Draglište 1 | Western Rupic / Razlog - Babjak | 327 | 2:15 | 38 |
wedding customs • birth customs • work bees |
Dolno Draglište 3 | Western Rupic / Razlog - Babjak | 261 | 1:39 | 41 |
bread making • roasting lambs for celebrations |
Dolno Ujno | Southwestern / Kjustendil | 1028 | 9:48 | 314 |
baking banitsa • processing wool, spinning, knitting socks, weaving • work bees • old-time lamps • dancing at village celebrations • engagement customs |
Černovrŭx | Northeastern: Central Balkan | 370 | 3:52 | 67 |
composition of a wedding procession • organization of the wedding feast |
Vasiljovo 2 | Northeastern / Western Balkan: Teteven | 268 | 1:52 | 31 |
how the village was settled • celebration of holy days and musical accompaniment to dancing on such occasions |
Čokmanovo 1 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Smoljan-Široka Lŭka | 372 | 2:58 | 39 |
observation of holidays in the old days • threshing practices • wedding customs |
Babjak 2 | Western Rupic / Razlog - Babjak | 265 | 1:32 | 33 |
threshing procedures • details of threshing implements |
Babjak 3 | Western Rupic / Razlog - Babjak | 247 | 1:31 | 30 |
specific customs associated with the celebration of St. George's Day |
Babjak 4 | Western Rupic / Razlog - Babjak | 247 | 1:27 | 29 |
personal narrative about the possibility of being freed from army service to train as an opera singer |
Petrov Dol 1 | Northeastern: Moesian | 804 | 5:54 | 104 |
description of stage performance of the custom “throwing away babies” (leaving a baby at the crossroads for someone to find, christen, and nurture, and then to return it healthy to its mother) • discussion of the meaning of this custom, and the choice of names for the christening • lively reenactment of certain lines from the performance |
Stakevci 4 | Transitional / Belogradčik | 590 | 5:13 | 134 |
discussion among locals of whether snakes are still abundant in the region • description of how folk shoes ("opŭnci") are made • sowing and harvesting of hemp, and making of fabric from it • women’s and men’s traditional clothing |
Gela 2 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Smoljan-Široka Lŭka | 853 | 6:23 | 107 |
differences between then and now, primarily as concerns children and food • swaddling practices • narrative about bringing a child “a treat” back from town • fears about the future • the value of blueberries for preservation of sight • narrative about a doctor bringing a sight-impaired child to the village because of the healing power of its blueberries |
Šumnatica 3 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Tihomir | 1026 | 7:41 | 264 |
recipes for banitsa, bulghur, stuffed grape leaves • discussion of women’s work • bread-making • processing meat and hide after an animal is slaughtered • washing, carding and spinning wool |
Stančov Han 1 | Northeastern: Central Balkan | 705 | 7:23 | 119 |
carolers at Christmas • fate of local mines and factories • old-time clothing • structure of home looms • dyes from local plants • composition of a bride’s dowry |
Petrov Dol 2 | Northeastern: Moesian | 709 | 5:47 | 155 |
St. George’s Day customs, preparation of breads and of roast lamb • communal celebrations outdoors by several families • blessing of the lamb before it is slaughtered |
Repljana 1 | Transitional / Belogradčik | 991 | 6:15 | 129 |
lively personal narrative about being nearly gored by an ox as a child • personal narrative about helping grandparents in the summer pasture and curing a sick lamb |
Gela 3 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Smoljan-Široka Lŭka | 504 | 3:38 | 90 |
sheepherding practices • personal narrative about summering in the village and wintering in Smoljan and a highly educated daughter’s attachment to the village |
Šumnatica 4 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Tihomir | 63 | 0:33 | 12 |
lament over unemployment due to factory closures |
Stančov Han 2 | Northeastern: Central Balkan | 181 | 1:58 | 29 |
personal recollection by the speaker of having pleasantly surprised her mother-in-law by knowing how to weave well |
Petrov Dol 3 | Northeastern: Moesian | 922 | 7:30 | 167 |
lively, detailed discussion of harvesting customs • threshing and winnowing then and now |
Stikŭl 1 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Smoljan-Široka Lŭka | 971 | 8:07 | 128 |
personal narrative about a neighbor who predicted television and modern dress • working the land and caring for livestock in the old days • current problems of grain and bread distribution |
Skrŭt 1 | Southwestern / Petrič | 1186 | 8:01 | 220 |
narration of a folk tale, to an audience including vocal children • recitation of a cumulative tale |
Kovačevo 1 | Western Rupic: Goce Delčev | 975 | 7:02 | 223 |
highly detailed description of engagement practices, and bridal decorations • location of dance area in the village and description of traditional dance occasions. |
Stančov Han 3 | Northeastern: Central Balkan | 347 | 2:30 | 47 |
lament about current poor economic situation and unemployment |
Vladimirovo 1 | Northwestern / Vidin-Lom | 489 | 4:45 | 121 |
village celebrations, family saints • cultivating vineyards • custom of “catching” a saint’s day for a child using a three-legged stool |
Stikŭl 2 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Smoljan-Široka Lŭka | 807 | 6:40 | 140 |
gathering and exporting mushrooms • difference between grafted and ungrafted cherry trees • making fruit preserves • separating the herds on St. Dimitri’s Day |
Oreše | Western Rupic / Čeč | 406 | 3:11 | 60 |
personal narrative of losing father in Balkan Wars • interpretation of Biblical prophecy as referring to Communism |
Kovačevo 2 | Western Rupic: Goce Delčev | 288 | 1:58 | 56 |
animals raised in the old days • current price of eggs and difficulty of keeping even chickens. |
Stojkite 1 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Smoljan-Široka Lŭka | 259 | 2:00 | 27 |
personal narrative of courtship and meeting prospective husband’s parents • meeting with women friends • gathering mushrooms |
Vladimirovo 2 | Northwestern / Vidin-Lom | 585 | 5:16 | 136 |
village celebrations • making of peasant shoes from pigskin and leg wrappings • Christmas foods • dyeing of Easter eggs |
Repljana 4 | Transitional / Belogradčik | 290 | 1:18 | 49 |
discussion of names of local rock formations and holes in them, and narrative about one villager’s mishap there |
Stikŭl 3 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Smoljan-Široka Lŭka | 986 | 8:41 | 167 |
washing rugs at the local washing pool • raising of a monument to war dead at the fountain • narration of a legend about how a life will be lost if a sacrificial offering is not made at a local chapel, and of an instance where a non-local was electrocuted at that spot • discussion of the term “turla” used in reference to the hill near the chapel • discussion of pictures in a particular book about the region |
Kralevo 1 | Eastern Rupic / Thracian | 720 | 3:41 | 93 |
experiences in the collective farm • current economic difficulties • tobacco farming |
Kralevo 2 | Eastern Rupic / Thracian | 680 | 4:21 | 138 |
making bread and banitsa • churning milk • differences between now and then, especially socializing and coffee drinking • keeping wine at home in particular barrels |
Stojkite 2 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Smoljan-Široka Lŭka | 203 | 1:51 | 21 |
reaping practices • recipe for Rhodope banitsa |
Vladimirovo 3 | Northwestern / Vidin-Lom | 483 | 4:36 | 112 |
description of women fishing in the river with woven fabric, and using polenta scraps in a pot for bait • names of fish and methods of cooking them • soup recipes • growing and harvesting of beans |
Stikŭl 4 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Smoljan-Široka Lŭka | 319 | 2:53 | 64 |
discussion with local resident about land taxes • discussion of whether to photograph speaker or not |
Kralevo 3 | Eastern Rupic / Thracian | 420 | 2:26 | 71 |
narrative of legend related by speaker’s grandfather concerning how the village got its name |
Sveta Petka 1 | Central Rupic: Rhodope: Velingrad | 606 | 4:38 | 162 |
shearing sheep, carding and spinning wool • dyeing wool, and how patterns for dyeing are determined • parts of a loom, and who builds it |
Sŭrnica 1 | Central Rupic: Rhodope: Velingrad | 765 | 4:53 | 213 |
personal narrative of trips taken with husband • custom of blood brotherhood • prohibitions on intermarriage between kin by blood brotherhood • ritual marking of blood brotherhood • personal narrative of daughter’s suckling another woman’s child, and consequence relationship of blood brotherhood between “suckling siblings” |
Kruševo 1 | Western Rupic / Čeč | 664 | 4:32 | 116 |
personal narrative about caring for an elderly woman in the village, and discussion of the merits of welfare benefits |
Sveta Petka 2 | Central Rupic: Rhodope: Velingrad | 286 | 2:40 | 108 |
sources of light inside houses prior to electricity • bedcovers brought as part of dowry |
Skrŭt 2 | Southwestern / Petrič | 932 | 8:42 | 182 |
detailed overview of engagement and wedding customs |
Sŭrnica 2 | Central Rupic: Rhodope: Velingrad | 866 | 6:06 | 207 |
work in the forest • washing wool after sheep are shorn • dyeing practices, and sources of natural dye colors • weaving of coarse homespun and taking it to the fuller • weighting the homespun afterwards to make it hang smooth |
Pavelsko 1 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Hvojna | 259 | 2:06 | 36 |
reaping in the fields, songs sung while reaping • threshing and winnowing customs |
Kruševo 2 | Western Rupic / Čeč | 220 | 1:30 | 47 |
humorous narrative about healing a limp by the application of heated cow manure |
Sveta Petka 3 | Central Rupic: Rhodope: Velingrad | 606 | 6:24 | 133 |
names for corn • where oxen were stabled • stables and houses built not by locals but by craftsmen from neighboring region • threshing procedures |
Skrŭt 3 | Southwestern / Petrič | 610 | 5:10 | 100 |
Christmas celebrations • fasting at time of other holidays • contrast with then and now • mummers at New Years |
Sŭrnica 3 | Central Rupic: Rhodope: Velingrad | 623 | 4:30 | 174 |
reaping practices • discussion of which grains grow in the region • customs of St. George’s Day, especially prohibition on women’s work |
Pavelsko 2 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Hvojna | 279 | 2:25 | 54 |
making yogurt • shearing sheep • sowing and harvesting of lentils and beans |
Srebŭrna 1 | Northeastern: Moesian | 780 | 6:44 | 118 |
discussion of ducks in the yard and a carcass hung to dissuade magpies from taking eggs • detailed discussion of betrothal rituals |
Trŭnčovica 1 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Pavlikani | 449 | 4:30 | 55 |
description of a traditional wedding |
Kruševo 3 | Western Rupic / Čeč | 572 | 5:17 | 181 |
spinning practices • sources of natural dyes • shearing of sheep and carding of wool |
Stalevo 1 | Eastern Rupic / Thracian | 791 | 9:44 | 177 |
washing, carding and spinning wool • preparation of thread for weaving • structure of the loom, and process of weaving |
Sŭrnica 4 | Central Rupic: Rhodope: Velingrad | 464 | 3:29 | 89 |
structure of old-time houses • the hearth as source of both light and heat • cooking in the hearth |
Tihomir 1 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Tihomir | 935 | 9:59 | 274 |
dress and footwear in the old days • work bees • grinding of flour • structure of ritual pre-wedding gatherings (“corn parties”) • betrothal customs • weaving and the parts of the loom • weaving of multicolored heavy rugs and of fabrics • details of spinning • dyeing of the spun thread |
Pavelsko 3 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Hvojna | 139 | 1:08 | 22 |
Easter customs • names of weekdays in Holy Week |
Srebŭrna 2 | Northeastern: Moesian | 1102 | 7:29 | 171 |
processing of wool from shorn sheep • weaving of reed mats • structure of looms • houses in the old days vs. now |
Stoilovo 1 | Eastern Rupic / Strandža | 217 | 1:39 | 38 |
Easter customs • women’s dress in the old days |
Trŭnčovica 2 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Pavlikani | 972 | 5:51 | 97 |
personal narrative of how speaker as a young girl begged her uncle to let her plow, and subsequent experiences • personal experiences of mowing with uncle and cousin |
Kruševo 4 | Western Rupic / Čeč | 510 | 4:05 | 125 |
holiday preparations • banitsa recipe • feeding migrant workers at harvest time • gardening |
Stalevo 2 | Eastern Rupic / Thracian | 342 | 5:00 | 89 |
drying fruit, and cooking for fast days • explanation of the reasons for fasting (or not) |
Trjavna | Northeastern: Central Balkan | 1005 | 7:36 | 257 |
goat-keeping • names of individual goats • making cheese from goat milk • marking of goats for eventual slaughter • forage for the goats • goats as intelligent animals |
Tihomir 2 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Tihomir | 726 | 7:20 | 221 |
bread baking • recipes for banica and other pastries ("kashnitsa" and "trahana") • pasta that is purchased • reaping customs and instruments • threshing customs |
Pavelsko 4 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Hvojna | 719 | 4:03 | 112 |
personal narrative about plowing lentils in the mountains, and difficulties when a boy fell from his mule and bad weather came up • yogurt making recipes • looking after livestock • reaping and threshing practices • preparation of hemp |
Stalevo 3 | Eastern Rupic / Thracian | 199 | 2:28 | 45 |
storing cheese in a whole animal skin • the difference between milk from cows, sheep, and goats |
Vasiljovo 1 | Northeastern / Western Balkan: Teteven | 921 | 6:54 | 105 |
description of a song sung during the First Balkan War • work bees • traditional Christmas breads * fortune-telling at New Year’s * customs at other holidays • growing corn and spreading the wealth among those less fortunate |
Tihomir 3 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Tihomir | 341 | 2:45 | 73 |
feeding a bull • keeping hens and livestock • plowing and threshing • types of mushrooms • structure of mousetraps |
Stalevo 4 | Eastern Rupic / Thracian | 367 | 3:09 | 56 |
narrative of a runaway bride |
Nasalevci 1 | Transitional / Trŭn | 955 | 9:38 | 283 |
wedding customs • humorous discussion of beards and shaving • birth customs and caring for babies • traditional women’s dress |
Markovo | Northeastern: Sub-Balkan | 981 | 8:37 | 208 |
personal narrative about construction and ownership of speaker’s house • life of young people in the old days • work bees and courtship during them • engagement practices, matchmaking |
Stakevci 1 | Transitional / Belogradčik | 497 | 3:45 | 81 |
humorous personal narrative about a bus trip to the wrong destination, the way the speaker learned of the mixup, and the apology of the bus conductor |
Nasalevci 2 | Transitional / Trŭn | 641 | 5:55 | 184 |
humorous discussion of hair coloring • Christmas customs, including traditional breads and carolers ("koledari") |
Malevo/Hsk 1 | Eastern Rupic / Thracian | 1645 | 15:05 | 283 |
narrative of how the village was settled • good relations with Turks • personal narrative about father and grandfather • earlier name of the village • arrival of Pomaks after collectivization • work distribution among sexes in older days • sowing practices • raising and selling cotton • reaping practices • threshing practices • storing grain in the barn • bread baking • churning milk |
Stakevci 2 | Transitional / Belogradčik | 271 | 1:40 | 38 |
humorous personal narrative about how the speaker, visiting her mother in another town, could not gather a particular herb in the garden because she did not recognize the local name for it |
Šumnatica 1 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Tihomir | 347 | 3:31 | 98 |
time differences between Bulgaria and America • recollections of the war and the role of Russia and the U.S. helping Bulgarians against the Germans |
Malevo/Hsk 2 | Eastern Rupic / Thracian | 607 | 3:28 | 106 |
conversation between several village women about differences in women’s lives between now and then |
Petŭrnica | Northwestern / Bjala Slatina - Pleven | 544 | 4:31 | 55 |
narrative about a woman who was able to tell of one’s past from the way a thread from clothing settled in a glass of water • lively personal narrative about riding a fractious horse as a child |
Stakevci 3 | Transitional / Belogradčik | 404 | 2:45 | 56 |
humorous personal narrative about how the speaker insists on speaking her own dialect when she goes to visit her grandchildren in another town, and how one of these children challenged his teacher to come up with a definition for a word from that dialect |
Gela 1 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Smoljan-Široka Lŭka | 463 | 3:25 | 73 |
recollections of sheepherding as a child • differences between children then and now • humorous narrative about a visitor’s confusion due to dialect words (dried fruit vs. icicles) |
Šumnatica 2 | Central Rupic: Rhodope / Tihomir | 335 | 2:43 | 54 |
discussion of how “democracy” has brought very high prices • personal recollections of wartime and forced labor building railway lines |
Prestoj | Northeastern: Central Balkan | 479 | 3:43 | 81 |
detailed description of the making of fruit leather |