Vŭrbina 4

1 (VZh)       [How was the village founded?]

2 (d) [0:02]      The village was founded – I don’t know what years. A certain time ago.

village sg n def med
3sg pres aux clt
sg n L.part cop settle sg n L.part P year pl f def med
neg
know 1sg pres I before one sg n adj certain sg n adj time sg n

3 (d) [0:08]      The old folk say that three people came to Vŭrbina from Anatolia

old pl def med adj say 3pl pres I
that conj
3pl pres aux clt
from
Anatolia sg f place come pl L.part P three an.num people pl in
Vŭrbina sg f place

4 (d) [0:11]      and that they founded the village. That’s established. But what year

and
3pl pres aux clt
settle pl L.part P village sg n def med
and
from.there adv
acc refl clt
establish 3sg pres I which sg f interr adj year sg f

5 (d) [0:18]      and when, I cannot tell you. Things went on after that

and
when interr
3sg pres cop clt
neg
neg
can 1sg pres I
dat 2sg clt
say 1sg pres P after.that adv
3sg pres aux clt
walk sg n L.part I this sg n med adj

6 (d) [0:24]      the succeeding years and it continued on. This is what we know from recently.

successive pl adj year pl f
and
continue sg n L.part I anew adv
acc sg n 3sg
understand 1pl pres I nom 1pl

7 (VZh)       [When do you sow corn?]

8 (d) [0:31]      We sow corn in the spring, when we plow with the oxen

disc
corn sg f def med
acc f 3sg clt
sow 1pl pres I spring sg n adj time sg n when rel
acc f 3sg clt
plow 1pl pres I
with
ox pl m def med

9 (d) [0:36]      and we sow it [then]. Next to it we sow beets, potatoes, beans

and
acc f 3sg clt
sow 1pl pres I
by
acc f 3sg sow 1pl pres I
and
beets pl m potato pl m beans sg m

10 (d) [0:41]      [according to] the way we organize our village economy. We sow rye in the autumn

what sg n rel med form 1pl pres I village sg n adj economy sg n rye sg m def med
acc m 3sg clt
sow 1pl pres I
in
towards.winter sg n adj time sg n

11 (d) [0:48]      in our region [that’s] one month before St. George’s Day. And - and we carry on

like med our sg n def med adj one sg m adj month sg m
to
St.George's.day sg m
and
and
and
acc m 3sg clt
continue 3sg pres I

12 (d) [0:53]      with this work. That’s what we occupied ourselves with. After that

disc
this sg f med adj work sg f
with
that sg n dist adj
1pl pres aux clt
occupy pl L.part I nom 1pl
and
after adv

13 (d) [1:00]      we thresh, and plow, and thresh – We thresh the rye with hinnies,

thresh 1pl pres I plow 1pl pres I
and
thresh 1pl pres I
acc sg n 3sg
[...]
this sg n med adj rye sg m def med
acc m 3sg clt
thresh 1pl pres I with
hinny pl m

14 (d) [1:08]      that's how it went in the old times. We use the straw to feed the livestock

like med old.time adv thus med adv walk 3sg impf I straw sg f def med utilize 1pl pres I again adv eat 3pl pres I livestock sg m def

15 (d) [1:16]      [and] we use it as well. We also do the mowing, and make [food for] the livestock

and
acc f 3sg
dat refl clt
utilize 1pl pres I same adv mow 1pl pres I make 1pl pres I livestock sg m def
dat refl clt

16 (d) [1:23]      from the same – from the very natural [resources] of our own [area].

from
same sg n def med adj
from
same sg f def med adj nature sg f
from
our sg f def med adj
dat refl clt

17 (d) [1:28]      Nothing comes in from outside. We feed ourselves

from
outside adv
hes
neg
dat 1pl clt
enter 3sg impf I only adv
hes
feed 1pl pres I
acc refl clt

18 (d) [1:31]      from within our village. This was the old nature. No other [way].

from
very sg n def med adj village sg n this sg n med adj 3sg impf cop old sg f def med adj nature sg f other sg n adj no

19 (VZh)       [How do you plow?]

20 (d) [1:37]      We plow with oxen. For corn, we make a furrow

plow 1pl pres I with
ox pl m def med
for
corn sg f def med make 1pl pres I
acc f 3sg clt
in
furrow sg f

21 (d) [1:40]      and fill it up. We put the grains into it in order, [first the corn] and after that

and
acc n 3sg clt
pour 1pl pres I
with
grain pl def med
and
put 1pl pres I in.order adv
and
after
acc f 3sg

22 (d) [1:45]      we put [seeds] for the pumpkins. Then we put fertilizer down

put 1pl pres I
and
and
for
pumpkin pl f
and
pour 1pl pres I above adv fertilizer sg m

23 (d) [1:51]      and tamp it down good. And after we tamp it down it sprouts.

and
acc m 3sg clt
bury 1pl pres I
and
after adv this sg n med adj when conj
acc m 3sg clt
bury 1pl pres P sprout 3sg pres P

24 (d) [1:54]      [Then] we hoe it again, and then later hoe it a second time.

hoe 1pl pres P
acc m 3sg clt
again adv later adv
acc m 3sg clt
hoe 1pl pres P
and
second sg m adj time sg m

25 (d) [1:58]      And that’s how we do it in our manner.

and
thus med adv
acc n 3sg clt
do 1pl pres I our sg n def med adj
dat refl clt

26 (VZh)       [How do you raise grain?]

27 (d) [2:03]      The grain starts out like this: we sow it, it comes up, it ripens,

grain sg n def med
acc n 3sg clt
begin 1sg pres I thus med adv sow 1pl pres P
acc n 3sg clt
emerge 3sg pres P
and
acc n 3sg clt
and
ripen 3sg pres P

28 (d) [2:07]      then we reap it. After that we put it in stacks and pound it

and
acc n 3sg clt
reap 1pl pres I after this sg n med adj
acc n 3sg clt
arrange 1pl pres P
in
stack pl f
and
acc n 3sg clt
pound 1pl pres I

29 (d) [2:13]      and then we thresh it. We do up the rye also, and we make use of the straw

and
after adv
acc n 3sg clt
thresh 1pl pres I
and
rye sg m def med finish 1pl pres I
and
acc m 3sg clt
straw sg f def med utilize 1pl pres I

30 (d) [2:19]      for the cattle; we get in the rye and feed [them],

for
livestock sg m def rye sg m def med
acc m 3sg clt
drive 1pl pres I
and
acc 3pl clt
feed 1pl pres I

31 (d) [2:22]      then we grind it and it becomes flour for fodder for them.

again adv
acc m 3sg clt
grind 1pl pres I
and
become 3sg pres P flour sg n
for
forage sg m
and
for
acc m 3sg

32 (d) [2:25]      And people would even eat it too.

and
even adv
acc n 3sg clt
eat 3pl impf I
and
people pl def med

33 (VZh)       [How do you make the threshing floor?]

34 (d) [2:28]      The – the threshing floor is made of earth like in a meadow [that is, like]

[...]
threshing.floor sg m def
3sg pres cop clt
create sg m P.part P
from
earth sg f def med like med
to
[...]

35 (d) [2:32]      in an open field, an open field without stones. We sweep it, put down the rye,

to
clearing sg f def med not
with
stone pl disc clearing sg f
and
acc n 3sg clt
sweep 1pl pres P put 1pl pres P rye sg m def med

36 (d) [2:39]      thresh it, then take away the straw and – sweep it

thresh 1pl pres I
acc m 3sg clt
after.that adv drive.off 1pl pres P straw sg f def med
and
acc m 3sg clt
and
acc m 3sg clt
sweep 1pl pres I

37 (d) [2:42]      and winnow it, and gather it up in sacks in – in our own manner.

and
acc n 3sg clt
winnow 1pl pres I
and
acc n 3sg clt
gather 1pl pres I in
sack pl m def med
by
by
our.way adv

38 (VZh)       [What did you thresh with?]

39 (d) [2:51]      We threshed with hinnies and horses. There were even people

with
hinny pl m
and
with
horse pl m
acc n 3sg clt
thresh 1pl pres I even adv impf exist people pl

40 (d) [2:55]      who threshed with oxen. Where there were no hinnies

and
acc n 3sg clt
thresh 3pl impf I
and
with
with
ox m pl where rel med neg exist hinny sg m

41 (d) [3:00]      oxen did the threshing. Those who were poorer threshed with donkeys

and
ox m pl
acc refl clt
thresh pl L.part I rel med
3sg pres cop clt
more poor sg m adj with
donkey sg n
acc n 3sg clt
thresh 3sg pres I

42 (d) [3:06]      That goes more slowly. [The weight] is not as heavy and the threshing goes more slowly.

more slowly adv become 3sg pres I more light sg n adj
3sg pres cop clt
more slowly adv thresh 3sg pres I

43 (VZh)       [Did the men travel somewhere to work?]

44 (d) [3:12]      They would go from here to Komotini, they would take boards from the mountains

from.here adv
3pl pres aux clt
go pl L.part I
for
Gyumyurdzhina sg f place
and
3pl pres aux clt
drive pl L.part I board pl f
from
mountain sg f def med

45 (d) [3:16]      they’d take pine boards to Komotini, and for that

rel med pine pl adj board pl f
3pl pres aux clt
drive pl L.part I
to
Gyumyurdzhina sg f place
and
with
acc 3pl

46 (d) [3:19]      would charge portage. They’d load up there again for here

3pl pres aux clt
take pl L.part I rent sg f
from
there adv
3pl pres aux clt
again adv load pl L.part I towards here adv

47 (d) [3:21]      on the way back, charging portage as well, and they made a living with that,

again adv
3pl pres aux clt
return sg n def med adj return pl L.part I rent sg f
and
3pl pres aux clt
live pl L.part I with
this sg n med adj

48 (d) [3:25]      with that kind [of work]. We called it “carting trade” in the old manner.

with
this sg m med adj sort sg m transport sg m
acc m 3sg clt
say 1pl pres I nom 1pl in.old.way adv

49 (VZh)       So what would they carry to there?

mean 3sg pres I to.there adv what sg n interr
3pl pres aux clt
drive pl L.part I

50 (d) [3:30]      Boards. And then they would bring other things back this direction.

board pl f
and
to.here adv
3pl pres aux clt
drive pl L.part I again adv other sg m adj material sg m

51 (VZh)       [When do you sow lentils?]

52 (d) [3:36]      They sow lentils like I told you, in the spring

lentils sg f def med sow 3pl pres I
in
again adv same adv how rel med say 1sg aor P
in
spring sg n adj time sg n

53 (d) [3:40]      they sow them at the same time as rye: you dig, then you sow

and
acc f 3sg clt
sow 3pl pres I how rel med
and
rye sg m def med
and
acc refl clt
dig 3sg pres I
and
acc refl clt
sow 3sg pres I

54 (d) [3:44]      after that you weed them and then pick them: you don’t reap them.

after adv this sg n med adj nom f 3sg
acc refl clt
weed 3sg pres I
and
acc refl clt
pluck 3sg pres I nom f 3sg
acc refl clt
neg reap 3sg pres I

55 (d) [3:49]      You pick them and put them in piles and then pound them

nom 3sg pres
acc refl clt
pluck 3sg pres I
and
acc refl clt
arrange 3sg pres I
in
pile pl f
and
after.that adv
acc refl clt
pound 3sg pres I

56 (d) [3:53]      and they become lentils – the remaining [pounded] grain which we can use.

and
happen 3sg pres I
to
lentils sg f
and
remain 3sg pres I this sg n med adj grain sg n def med
acc refl clt
utilize 3sg pres I interr

57 (VZh)       [How does wheat differ from rye?]

58 (d) [3:59]      “Rye” is larger and wheat is smaller

grain sg n def med
3sg pres cop clt
more coarse sg n adj
and
wheat sg f def med
3sg pres cop clt
more fine sg f adj

59 (d) [4:04]      And there’s another kind – we call it “arpa” [barley] –

and
and
other sg n adj rel med barley sg f
acc n 3sg clt
nom 1pl call 1pl pres I

60 (d) [4:09]      that they sow for the hinnies; it is even smaller still.

for
hinny pl m def med sow 3pl pres I nom f 3sg
3sg pres cop clt
more fine sg f adj

61 (VZh)       [When do you gather in barley?]

62 (d) [4:13]      Barley – “arpa” – comes about more quickly than rye.

barley sg m def barley sg f def med
[...]
barley sg f def med become 3sg pres I more fast adv
from
from
rye sg m def med

63 (d) [4:16]      It is – it ripens more quickly. We make use of it for the livestock:

nom f 3sg
3sg pres cop clt
more fast adv ripen 3sg pres I
and
for
livestock sg m def
acc f 3sg clt
utilize 1pl pres I nom 1pl

64 (d) [4:20]      we feed the hinnies with it. They don’t grind it for human food,

for
hinny pl m def med
for
feed vbl.n I neg
acc f 3sg clt
grind 3pl pres I
for
food sg f
for
people pl def med

65 (d) [4:24]      whereas we do grind rye for humans: we grind it for [our] food.

but
for
again adv rye sg m def med
acc m 3sg clt
grind 1pl pres I
for
people pl def med
for
eat vbl.n I
acc m 3sg clt
grind 1pl pres I

66 (d) [4:28]      And they make heating packs from it, from barley. When someone gets a cold

there adv heating.pack pl f make 3pl pres I
from
acc m 3sg
from
barley sg f def med when rel cool 3sg pres P person sg m
and
[...]

67 (d) [4:34]      they make heating packs, [also] for the livestock. Even for animals we made

make 3pl pres I heating.pack pl f
for
livestock sg m independently adv
to
livestock sg m
1pl pres aux clt
make pl L.part I

68 (d) [4:37]      such heating packs. You steam up the barley and put it on [someone’s] back,

such pl med adj heating.pack pl f barley sg f steam 2sg pres P
and
to
back sg m def
dat m 3sg clt
put 2sg pres P

69 (d) [4:40]      also if a child takes cold. For a child we put it

when rel cool 3sg pres P
and
child sg n
and
same adv
3sg pres cop clt
to
child sg n
dat n 3sg clt
put 1pl pres P

70 (d) [4:44]      on his chest. We use barley for the livestock as well. And that’s barley.

to
chest pl.t def med
and
for
livestock sg m even adv utilize 1pl pres I barley sg f def med
and
that sg n dist adj
3sg pres cop clt
barley sg f def med

71 (VZh)       [How do you look after sheep?]

72 (d) [4:50]      We have one [main] activity with sheep: we breed them in autumn. Then

sheep pl f def med have 1pl pres I one f adj activity sg f breed 1pl impf I
acc 3pl clt
towards.winter sg n adj time sg n
and
after.that adv

73 (d) [4:58]      in the spring, when the first days of May come, the lambs are born.

disc spring sg n adj time sg n when conj come 3sg pres P first pl adj May sg n adj time sg n
acc refl clt
bear 3pl pres I lamb pl m def med

74 (d) [5:04]      And then – it’s looking after the lambs.

and
acc refl clt
and
then med adv
and
look vbl.n I lamb pl m def med

75 (d) [5:09]      Lambs are born only once [a year] in our region.

only adv one sg m adj time m
acc refl clt
in
our sg n def adj bear 3pl impf I lamb pl m def med

76 (d) [5:12]      During the summer we only milk the sheep and take them to pasture;

during summer sg n def med only adv milk 1pl pres I
acc 3pl clt
sheep pl f def med
and
drive 1pl pres I
acc 3pl clt
to
pasture sg f

77 (d) [5:17]      we process dairy products. And that’s what our activity was like in the old times.

dairy.farm pl f make 1pl pres I
disc
thus med adv 3sg impf cop old sg f def med adj activity sg f

78 (VZh)       [How do you shear them?]

79 (d) [5:24]      For shearing: we did the shearing. As for the wool we sheared,

shear def vbl.n I med
3sg pres cop clt
shear 1pl impf I
dat refl clt
nom 1pl
and
shear 1pl pres I
acc 3pl clt
wool sg f def med
dat refl clt

80 (d) [5:29]      we didn’t card it, nor did we take it to carders. We used the old-time carders

neg
acc f 3sg clt
card 1pl pres I even adv
neg
carry 1pl pres I
to
carder sg m with
old.time pl adj carder pl m

81 (d) [5:33]      to card it and [the women] spin it and we make clothes from it.

and
card 1pl pres I
and
spin 3pl pres I
acc f 3sg clt
and
make 1pl pres I clothing pl f
from
acc 3pl

82 (d) [5:37]      We sew baggy trousers in the old fashion, and we make thick homespun for sewing

sew 1pl pres I in.old.way adv baggy.trousers pl.t homespun pl f make 1pl pres I rel med sew 1pl pres I

83 (d) [5:42]      wool coats from [it]. We make everything ourselves,

woolen pl adj coat pl n
from
alone pl adj
dat refl clt
acc n 3sg clt
make 1pl pres I nom 1pl everything sg n adj

84 (d) [5:46]      we do all the weaving ourselves, on the [old] looms.

from
loom pl m
dat refl clt
acc 3pl clt
weave 1pl pres I nom 1pl

85 (d) [5:48]      Everything was done on local grounds.

everything sg n def med adj
acc refl clt
make 3sg impf I
at
local sg f adj tile sg f

86 (VZh)       [Did you practice some sort of custom before starting to build a house?]

87 (d) [5:52]      Before you start to build a house, you’ll perform [this] custom:

before
comp
begin 2sg pres P house sg f
comp
build 2sg pres I
fut
do 2sg pres I custom sg m

88 (d) [5:56]      you’ll slaughter a yearling lamb on a corner. That’s the old custom.

fut
slaughter 2sg pres P one sg n adj yearling sg n
to
one sg f def med adj corner sg f
and
this sg n med adj
3sg pres cop clt
old sg m adj custom sg m

89 (d) [6:02]      And then you start building. You feed the builders and distribute

and
begin 2sg pres I
comp
build 2sg pres I craftman pl m def med fut
acc 3pl clt
feed 2sg pres I there adv
fut
distribute 2sg pres P

90 (d) [6:05]      [meat from the sacrifice] among the neighbors. That’s an old custom for building a house.

little adv
through
neighbor pl m def med
and
this sg n med adj
3sg pres cop clt
old sg m adj custom sg m
about
house sg f build vbl.n I

91 (d) [6:09]      Then the construction begins. The house was built not with lime

and
begin 3sg pres I build def vbl.n I med build def vbl.n I med
acc refl clt
build 3sg impf I not with
lime sg m

92 (d) [6:13]      but with local earth, or as we call it, mud – with that very mud

but
with
own sg f adj earth sg f rel med
acc n 3sg clt
call 1pl pres I mud sg m
and
with
same sg m def adj mud sg m

93 (d) [6:20]      we built houses in the old days. And that worked. There wasn’t stone [here].

build 1pl impf I house pl f def med
by
old sg n adj time sg n
and
this sg n med adj walk 3sg impf I
and
stone pl m
acc refl clt
exist impf neg

94 (d) [6:25]      We would bring in stone from far away: we brought the stone with hinnies,

and
drive 1pl impf I from.far adv stone pl m
with
hinny pl m
1pl pres aux clt
drive pl L.part I stone pl m

95 (d) [6:28]      or whatever [was available]. And that’s how we did building earlier on.

with
what sg n interr
neg
will 2sg pres
and
thus med adv
acc refl clt
3sg pres aux clt
build sg n L.part I more before adv

96 (d) [6:31]      There weren’t highways, there weren’t carts. That’s how it was.

exist impf neg highway pl n exist impf neg cart pl f
and
this sg n med adj 3sg impf cop

97 (VZh)       [What kinds of trees grew in the woods?]

98 (d) [6:37]      Oak trees. Oaks used to grow there. We call them beech trees,

oak pl adj tree pl n grow 3pl impf I oak pl m nom 1pl say 1pl pres I beech pl m

99 (d) [6:41]      oak trees (“mesh”). More correctly, oak (“dund”), or – said in the old manner – oak (“dub”).

and
oak pl m oak pl m
more
correct sg n def med adj in.old.way adv oak coll

100 (d) [6:44]      We built houses from it, from oak, [since] the wood is stronger,

from
acc m 3sg build 1pl impf I house pl f def med
from
oak pl m def med
3sg pres cop clt
more strong sg n adj wood sg n

101 (d) [6:48]      and there wasn’t any other. The beech is a smaller tree

and
exist impf neg other sg n adj beech sg n def adj
3sg pres cop clt
more little sg n adj

102 (d) [6:52]      And we sustained sheep with oak trees also: we’d lay away the pruned leaves –

and
with
oak sg n def med adj tree sg n look 1pl impf I sheep pl f def med prune 1pl impf I leaf pl m arrange 1pl impf I
acc m 3sg clt
[...]

103 (d) [6:58]      In the summer, when autumn is approaching, we put down leaf piles

summer sg n adj time sg n when rel approach 3sg pres P
to
autumn sg f def med arrange 1pl impf I
acc m 3sg clt
disc
leaf.pile pl m

104 (d) [7:02]      and bring them in. We feed the livestock from oak trees.

and
acc n 3sg clt
drive 1pl pres I feed 1pl pres I livestock sg m
from
oak sg n def med adj tree sg n

105 (d) [7:05]      That was the most effective food for us – oak trees.

nom n 3sg 3sg impf cop most strong sg f def med adj food sg f
for
acc 1pl oak sg n def med adj tree sg n

106 (VZh)       [Did the village have its local celebration?]

107 (d) [7:09]      We have our [local] celebration on Bayram. When Bayram comes

celebration sg m make 1pl pres I celebration sg m Bayram sg m when rel come 3sg pres P Bayram sg m

108 (d) [7:13]      we have Bayram celebrations in the old manner. We make big – we gather there,

make 1pl pres P in.old.way adv Bayram pl m celebration pl m
[ … ]
make 1pl pres I big pl adj gather 1pl pres I
acc refl clt
there adv

109 (d) [7:19]      we eat, there’s drinking – The women are inside and men outside, separately.

eat 1pl pres I drink 1pl pres I woman pl f def med inside adv man pl m def med outside adv
by
separately adv

110 (d) [7:25]      That’s what our celebration was like. After socialism came (on 9.IX.1944) we began to have

disc
thus med adv 3sg impf cop celebration sg m def our sg m adj after ninth sg m adj begin 1pl aor P

111 (d) [7:28]      a general celebration, with everyone (men and women) together. And that’s how it was.

general sg m adj celebration sg m which sg m rel med adj
3sg impf cop
together adv all pl adj
and
celebration sg m def 3sg impf cop thus med adv

112 (d) [7:35]      We got together in the village – perhaps a thousand people gathered from all [villages]

in
village sg n def med
1pl pres aux clt
gather pl L.part I can pres imprs
and
thousand sg f people pl
3pl pres aux clt
acc refl clt
gather pl L.part I
from
all pl def med adj

113 (d) [7:40]      – [our] regional council was [a] big [one]. We celebrated in the baths.

council sg m def 3sg impf cop big sg m adj celebrate 1pl pres I here adv in
bath pl f def med

114 (d) [7:47]      There was water there that we took advantage of, in the baths. So everyone went off there

there adv pres exist water sg f which sg n rel med adj utilize 1pl pres I bath pl f def med
and
escape 1pl pres I everything sg n def med adj there adv

115 (d) [7:50]      and a lot of people gathered there and it was a big celebration.

and
there adv disc
with
much adv people pl
acc refl clt
gather 3pl impf I
and
big sg m adj celebration sg m impf exist

116 (d) [7:54]      Now it’s a shepherd’s holiday, St. George’s Day, where it used to be [the actual] saint’s day.

now adv
3sg pres cop clt
shepherd sg m adj holiday sg m
on
St.George's.day sg m
but
more before adv 3sg impf cop St.George's.day sg m

117 (d) [7:58]      We used it as – as a holiday, and went off to the baths

and
acc m 3sg clt
utilize 1pl impf I like med
for
for
holiday sg m
and
escape 1pl impf I
to
bath sg f def med

118 (d) [8:02]      Whoever washed there would be healed of whatever ailed him – if someone had wounds

who sg m rel med adj
acc refl clt
wash 3sg pres P there adv
dat m 3sg clt
pass 3sg impf I something sg n if conj have 3sg pres I wound pl f

119 (d) [8:07]      they made use of that water. We made a great “Adreles” holiday there.

water sg f def utilize 3pl impf I
and
make 1pl impf I big sg m adj St.George's.day sg m there adv

120 (d) [8:10]      “Adreles” [is what] we call it (St. George’s Day).

St.George's.day sg m
acc m 3sg clt
say 1pl pres I

121 (VZh)       [And how did they put on weddings?]

122 (d) [8:12]      We make wedding with – in the old days it was on mules. You travel to the wedding,

wedding pl f def med
acc 3pl clt
make 1pl pres I with
one sg n adj time sg n with
mule pl n go 2sg pres P
to
wedding sg f

123 (d) [8:19]      from one village to the other, everyone riding on hinnies.

from
from
one sg n adj village sg n
to
other sg n adj everything sg n adj with
hinny pl m

124 (d) [8:21]      The bride mounts onto a mu– onto a hinny, and the wedding guests,

and
bride sg f def med
acc refl clt
mount 3sg pres P
to
[...]
to
hinny sg m def go 3pl pres P wedding.guest pl m

125 (d) [8:26]      three or four of them, also mount up on hinnies.

three four people pl
to
hinny pl m again adv
acc refl clt
mount 3pl pres P

126 (d) [8:27]      You go and get the bride, they all come back, and that was the old way [of doing it].

go 2sg pres P take 2sg pres P bride sg f
acc refl clt
return 3pl pres P back def med adv this sg n med adj 3sg impf cop old sg f def med adj
dat refl clt
thing sg f

127 (d) [8:32]      Everything went on hinnies. The dowry was carried

again adv
with
hinny pl m
acc refl clt
walk 3sg impf I everything sg n def med adj dowry sg f def med
acc refl clt
drive 3sg pres I

128 (d) [8:36]      on hinnies, people rode on mules, or on donkeys, whatever anyone had –

to
hinny pl m def med people pl def med ride 3pl pres I
to
mule pl n
to
donkey pl n who sg m inter.rel what sg n rel med can 3sg pres I

129 (d) [8:40]      and they even went on foot. That’s how it was.

and
even adv
and
on.foot adv walk 3pl impf I that sg n dist adj
3sg pres cop clt

130 (VZh)       [When did they get the bride?]

131 (d) [8:46]      When they go to get the bride there’s a [custom of] “meeting”,

when rel
acc refl clt
take 3sg pres I bride sg f def med pres exist one sg n adj meet vbl.n I

132 (d) [8:49]      when they take out the dowry, and everyone takes a piece of it

when rel
acc refl clt
take 3sg pres I dowry sg f def med
and
each sg m grasp 3sg pres P
by
one sg n adj piece n

133 (d) [8:53]      and asks you to give him a lev or two [in return]. Some [get] five levs,

seek 3sg pres I
by
some sg m adj lev sg m
comp
dat m 3sg clt
give 2sg pres P who sg m inter.rel five lev ct m

134 (d) [8:55]      some ten levs, some two levs. [They give levs also] to children and old people –

who sg m inter.rel ten lev ct m who sg m inter.rel two lev ct m
to
child pl n
to
old pl adj

135 (d) [8:58]      those who toss out the dowry from inside. That’s called “the purchasing”.

who sg m rel med adj throw.out 3sg pres P dowry sg f def med from.inside adv that sg n med adj
3sg pres cop clt
buy def vbl.n I

136 (VZh)       And that’s that.

this sg n med adj
3sg pres cop clt

         [How was the village founded?]

         The village was founded – I don’t know what years. A certain time ago.

         The old folk say that three people came to Vŭrbina from Anatolia

         and that they founded the village. That’s established. But what year

         and when, I cannot tell you. Things went on after that

         the succeeding years and it continued on. This is what we know from recently.

         [When do you sow corn?]

         and we sow it [then]. Next to it we sow beets, potatoes, beans

         [according to] the way we organize our village economy. We sow rye in the autumn

         in our region [that’s] one month before St. George’s Day. And - and we carry on

         with this work. That’s what we occupied ourselves with. After that

         we thresh, and plow, and thresh – We thresh the rye with hinnies,

         that's how it went in the old times. We use the straw to feed the livestock

         [and] we use it as well. We also do the mowing, and make [food for] the livestock

         from the same – from the very natural [resources] of our own [area].

         Nothing comes in from outside. We feed ourselves

         from within our village. This was the old nature. No other [way].

         [How do you plow?]

         We plow with oxen. For corn, we make a furrow

         and fill it up. We put the grains into it in order, [first the corn] and after that

         we put [seeds] for the pumpkins. Then we put fertilizer down

         and tamp it down good. And after we tamp it down it sprouts.

         [Then] we hoe it again, and then later hoe it a second time.

         And that’s how we do it in our manner.

         [How do you raise grain?]

         The grain starts out like this: we sow it, it comes up, it ripens,

         then we reap it. After that we put it in stacks and pound it

         and then we thresh it. We do up the rye also, and we make use of the straw

         for the cattle; we get in the rye and feed [them],

         then we grind it and it becomes flour for fodder for them.

         And people would even eat it too.

         [How do you make the threshing floor?]

          The – the threshing floor is made of earth like in a meadow [that is, like]

         in an open field, an open field without stones. We sweep it, put down the rye,

          thresh it, then take away the straw and – sweep it

         and winnow it, and gather it up in sacks in – in our own manner.

         [What did you thresh with?]

         We threshed with hinnies and horses. There were even people

         who threshed with oxen. Where there were no hinnies

         oxen did the threshing. Those who were poorer threshed with donkeys

         That goes more slowly. [The weight] is not as heavy and the threshing goes more slowly.

         [Did the men travel somewhere to work?]

         They would go from here to Komotini, they would take boards from the mountains

         would charge portage. They’d load up there again for here

         on the way back, charging portage as well, and they made a living with that,

         with that kind [of work]. We called it “carting trade” in the old manner.

         So what would they carry to there?

         Boards. And then they would bring other things back this direction.

         [When do you sow lentils?]

         they sow them at the same time as rye: you dig, then you sow

         after that you weed them and then pick them: you don’t reap them.

         You pick them and put them in piles and then pound them

         and they become lentils – the remaining [pounded] grain which we can use.

         “Rye” is larger and wheat is smaller

         And there’s another kind – we call it “arpa” [barley] –

         that they sow for the hinnies; it is even smaller still.

         [When do you gather in barley?]

         Barley – “arpa” – comes about more quickly than rye.

         It is – it ripens more quickly. We make use of it for the livestock:

         we feed the hinnies with it. They don’t grind it for human food,

         whereas we do grind rye for humans: we grind it for [our] food.

         And they make heating packs from it, from barley. When someone gets a cold

         they make heating packs, [also] for the livestock. Even for animals we made

         such heating packs. You steam up the barley and put it on [someone’s] back,

         also if a child takes cold. For a child we put it

         on his chest. We use barley for the livestock as well. And that’s barley.

         [How do you look after sheep?]

         We have one [main] activity with sheep: we breed them in autumn. Then

         in the spring, when the first days of May come, the lambs are born.

         And then – it’s looking after the lambs.

         Lambs are born only once [a year] in our region.

         During the summer we only milk the sheep and take them to pasture;

         we process dairy products. And that’s what our activity was like in the old times.

         [How do you shear them?]

         For shearing: we did the shearing. As for the wool we sheared,

         we didn’t card it, nor did we take it to carders. We used the old-time carders

         to card it and [the women] spin it and we make clothes from it.

         We sew baggy trousers in the old fashion, and we make thick homespun for sewing

         wool coats from [it]. We make everything ourselves,

         we do all the weaving ourselves, on the [old] looms.

         Everything was done on local grounds.

          [Did you practice some sort of custom before starting to build a house?]

         Before you start to build a house, you’ll perform [this] custom:

         you’ll slaughter a yearling lamb on a corner. That’s the old custom.

         And then you start building. You feed the builders and distribute

         [meat from the sacrifice] among the neighbors. That’s an old custom for building a house.

         Then the construction begins. The house was built not with lime

         but with local earth, or as we call it, mud – with that very mud

         we built houses in the old days. And that worked. There wasn’t stone [here].

         We would bring in stone from far away: we brought the stone with hinnies,

         or whatever [was available]. And that’s how we did building earlier on.

         There weren’t highways, there weren’t carts. That’s how it was.

         [What kinds of trees grew in the woods?]

         Oak trees. Oaks used to grow there. We call them beech trees,

         oak trees (“mesh”). More correctly, oak (“dund”), or – said in the old manner – oak (“dub”).

         We built houses from it, from oak, [since] the wood is stronger,

         and there wasn’t any other. The beech is a smaller tree

         And we sustained sheep with oak trees also: we’d lay away the pruned leaves –

         In the summer, when autumn is approaching, we put down leaf piles

         and bring them in. We feed the livestock from oak trees.

         That was the most effective food for us – oak trees.

         [Did the village have its local celebration?]

         We have our [local] celebration on Bayram. When Bayram comes

         we have Bayram celebrations in the old manner. We make big – we gather there,

         we eat, there’s drinking – The women are inside and men outside, separately.

         That’s what our celebration was like. After socialism came (on 9.IX.1944) we began to have

         a general celebration, with everyone (men and women) together. And that’s how it was.

         We got together in the village – perhaps a thousand people gathered from all [villages]

         – [our] regional council was [a] big [one]. We celebrated in the baths.

         There was water there that we took advantage of, in the baths. So everyone went off there

         and a lot of people gathered there and it was a big celebration.

         Now it’s a shepherd’s holiday, St. George’s Day, where it used to be [the actual] saint’s day.

         We used it as – as a holiday, and went off to the baths

         Whoever washed there would be healed of whatever ailed him – if someone had wounds

         they made use of that water. We made a great “Adreles” holiday there.

         “Adreles” [is what] we call it (St. George’s Day).

         [And how did they put on weddings?]

         We make wedding with – in the old days it was on mules. You travel to the wedding,

         from one village to the other, everyone riding on hinnies.

         The bride mounts onto a mu– onto a hinny, and the wedding guests,

         three or four of them, also mount up on hinnies.