St. Basil's Day

Skrŭt 3

4 (GK) e pa za pràznici mòže da mi kažùvaš

Well, you can tell me about holidays,

5 (GK) kàk ste vasìl’ovden jordànovden

[about] how you [celebrated] St. Basil’s day, [or] St. Iordan’s day …

Vasiljovo 1

45 (a) ìmaše əm è decà òdat ta suruvàkat

there was [the custom] that children go out as “survakar” (New Year’s well-wisher).

46 (a) a pa nìe momìčeta sə zbìra:me pɤk ta pejè̝m pṛ̀stenete

And we girls would get together and sing [songs of enchantment] over our rings.

47 (a) tùka vaf rekɛ̀ta sme sa zè̝le ta gi pejè̝m

We came to “sing” over the rings here at the river, [which]

48 (a) i tò ə l’è̝t ɛ̀ zbràli sa sa momìčeta i momčè̝ta

is [at this point] ice. So the boys and girls got together,

49 (a) i nìe z’è̝mat belò kotl’è i sipàle vɛ̀tre vòda

and we – they take a tin-plated kettle [that] they’ve poured water into,

50 (a) i tùrnat na ledɛ̀ put kutl’èto ə uv’ès put kutl’èto

and put it on the ice, and under the kettle – there’s oats under the kettle.

51 (a) i nal’ì ìmame s’è̝ pṛ̀stenčeta pu rac’è̝te pṛ̀stene

And, you know, we all have little rings on our hands. Rings.

52 (a) ɛ̀ s’è̝ki si spùsti pṛ̀sten’e vɛ̀tre vav vodɛ̀ta i pejè̝m gi

So each one drops her rings into the water, and we sing over them.

53 (a) ta ispejè̝m pesentɛ̀ i prib’è̝rat tovà sproti vasìl

We finish the songs and they take – on the night before St. Basil’s Day –

54 (a) i prib’è̝rat kutl’èto na vasìl zarantɛ̀ še si dòdem

they take the kettle. [So,] early in the morning on St. Basils’ day we'll come

55 (a) pà ràno da pejè̝m dòdem ta pejè̝m tùka na rekɛ̀ta

early again to sing. We come to sing here at the river

56 (a) i vàdat ə pṛ̀stenete i da gi narìčat pṛ̀stenete

and take out the rings to identify the rings [so as to learn]

57 (a) kumù kakvò še sa pàdne na ednì sa pàdne zdràv zdràva godìnčica

what fortune will come to whoever [owns each ring]. Some will have a healthy year,

58 (a) drùgi pàdne sa prevìt krəvàj gòs t’e čàka è tovà

others will have – if it’s bent like a “kravay” [it means] guests are coming.

59 (a) gòs a gòs t’e čàka godežàre čàkat è ftòrija pàk

That is, guests, and maybe even matchmakers, are coming. Another [fortune]

60 (a) ə bèše ìmaše kupɛ̀ s’àno na pɛ̀t’a kòjto mìne

was – there was a haystack by the road and someone goes by [and]

61 (a) oskùbne si t’à pàk drùgata pàk a i pà gu narìčat

pulls some out [to read her fortune]. And another and another. And again they tell fortunes

62 (a) pàk unuvà vèk’ ne pòmna kàg gu narìčaa pùsto

from that one, but I don’t remember anymore how they interpreted that one. Damn it,

63 (a) zabràila sam kàg gu narìčaa zabràvila sam go ne pòmna

I’ve forgotten how they used to interpret that one. I’ve forgotten it, I don’t remember.

64 (a) ne mòa ti gu kàža unuvà kàg gu narìčaa

I’m not able to tell you how they interpreted that one.

65 (a) je vìš pà gi poftòrim [unintelligible] gi pàk poftòrim

You see, we repeat them, [unintelligible], and repeat them again.

66 (a) takà posr’èštame vasìl à še dòde pa ivànovd’è̝n’ momčè̝ata

That’s how we observed St. Basil’s day. And then will come St John’s day. The boys

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St. Basil's Day

Skrŭt 3

Vasiljovo 1