Erasmus+ CLICHE Embroidery on Bulgarian national costumes

1. The Secret
Symbols In The
Bulgarian
Embroidery

2. Embroidery used to have a great symbolic value. It was believed
to protect the human body from evil spells and spirits. People
believed that cutting a part of the embroidery of one’s garment
would blaze a trail for the evil spirits and make the person
vulnerable.

3. Bulgarian women
were allowed to
embroider only until
their wedding day –
after that, they had
the right to do it again
only when their own
daughters turned 12
years and they needed
to learn how to do it.

4. Normally, girls at the
age of 12 started
embroidering what
would be later her
dowery when she got
married, and that was
the highest skill of all
domestic crafts.

5. Zapeski is a generalized
name of ebroidery on the
sleeves of Razlog females.
Kushula is a long shirt,
richly – ornamented with
emroidery.
The color of the
dresses also has its
significance, many
colors are used to
create Bulgarian
national costumes,
but the main ones
are red and green,
yellow and white.

6. The red color symbolizes the mother’s blood and the continuation of life. It
will protect from “bad eyes” and spells. The bride wore a red veil (this was
common practice until 1920′ s), and a newborn child was swaddled in a red
diaper; red is also the first Christ’s egg painted at Easter festivities.

7. The green color was the expression of the eternal life
and was connected with the Tree of life – the universal
human symbol.

8. The white color
revealed the purity,
the impenetrability,
the immaculate youth,
and the divine light.
And to this day, as a
transformation of the
old traditions, the
newly-weds have
come to pay for
whitewash; white
wool set the bride in
the wedding
ceremony.

9. Traditional Bulgarian
embroidery is
characterized by great
regional and local
diversity and can be
seen on regional
costumes of both men
and women. Once
upon a time, Bulgarian
embroideries revealed
the social status and
ethnic origin of a
person.

10. Because of the size and
geographical construction
of the country, with
highlands and lowlands,
mountains and valleys,
Bulgarian costume varied
quite considerably, as
could the embroidery that
went to embellish and
identify the wearer. There
was a tradition in various
parts of Bulgaria for the
use of floral or geometric
pattern work.

11. Rudan ( spinning
wheel) , Kraklizi (
shepherds), Plyochi
( horseshoes) ,
Srapove ( sickles –
for reaping grain
crops).

12. Besides, there is a
tradition to depict
flowers and fruit –
tulips, geraniums,
zvonitsi ( wild
strawberries) and
wild roses.

13. Health, fertility for the family and crops, keeping the
evil spirits away are the main functions of the Bulgarian
embroidery.

14. “1000 people in
traditional costumes in
one place”
Something different happens in
Razlog on the second day of
Easter. An event held in Razlog
reveals the folklore abundance
and variety on the territory of the
municipality. This is the festival
“1000 people in traditional
costumes in one place”, which
gathers more than a thousand
people, dressed in traditional
costumes in the center of Razlog.
The national costume is traditional
clothing that has a specific
meaning in everyday and festive
activities of the Bulgarians. Every
region of the country has its
traditional costume with specific
motives that cannot be seen

15. “1000 people in traditional
costumes in one place”
Local people and guests of the town
take part in the festival of the traditional
costumes, all dressed in costumes and
playing ‘horo’. Being part of the festival
“1000 people in traditional costumes in
one place” you will be carried away in a
world where traditional costumes, music
and dances rule. With long and colorful
‘horo’, people in Razlog all dressed in
costumes, show the beauty of traditions,
the magic of traditional costumes and
the their love to the birthplace and their
faith in the future.
During the centuries Razlog has
preserved its traditions and customs that
are revived from the people dresses in
traditional costumes, passed on from
generation to generation and carefully