OUR PEOPLE CAME FROM BULGARIA
Description: Maria Dobreva from Krynychne reports in this clip that her ancestors came from Bulgaria. Feudal sedition in the Ottoman Empire at the end of the 18th century and the Russo-Turkish Wars led to emigration of Bulgarians from their homeland to the Russian Empire. The settlers came primarily from what is now eastern Bulgaria and settled in the region of Budjak in what is now the Oblast of Odessa in Ukraine. Many details of the difficulties and hardship of everyday life come to her mind, and she is supplemented by her daughter. Together they remember things like sheep breeding, wool production, the school system and the languages they used.
Cite as: Náš'te s'i duš'l'é túkə ud Bɤlgár'ijə – Our people came from Bulgaria; performer: Maria Ivanova Dobreva; camera: Thede Kahl; interview: Tanya Dimitrova, Thede Kahl; transcription: Galina Emet, Thede Kahl; translation: Ani Antonova; editor: Ani Antonova; retrieved from www.oeaw.ac.at/VLACH, ID number: bass1265UAV0001a.
CELEBRATING MASLENITSA, EASTER, ST. GEORGE’S DAY
Description: Maria Dobreva from Krynychne (Bolhrad region) is a fluent speaker of Bessarabian Bulgarian. Feudal sedition in the Ottoman Empire at the end of the 18th century and the Russo-Turkish Wars led to emigration of Bulgarians from their homeland to the Russian Empire. The settlers came primarily from what is now eastern Bulgaria, and settled in the region of Budjak in what is now the Oblast of Odessa in Ukraine. She describes several customs during the year and puts an emphasis on the most important feasts: Easter, Maslenitsa, St. George's day.
Cite as: Máslen'icə, V'il'ígd'en, G'érg'uwdén – Celebrating Maslenitsa, Easter, St. George’s Day; performer: Maria Ivanova Dobreva; camera: Thede Kahl; interview: Tanya Dimitrova, Thede Kahl; transcription: Galina Emet, Thede Kahl; translation: Ani Antonova; editor: Ani Antonova; retrieved from www.oeaw.ac.at/VLACH, ID number: bass1265UAV0002a.
FLY, FLY, BUTTERFLY
Description: Many Bessarabian Bulgarians are fluent speakers of different Bulgarian varieties until today. Feudal sedition in the Ottoman Empire at the end of the 18th and the Russo-Turkish Wars led to emigration of Bulgarians from their homeland to the Russian empire. The settlers came primarily from what is now eastern Bulgaria, and settled in the region of Budjak in what is now the Oblast of Odessa in Ukraine. This lady describes the custom of rainmaking (Pirpiruna, also known as Perperuna or Dodole) among the Bessarabian Bulgarians of Krynychne (Bolhrad region), performed initially in times of drought. In the ritual, young women sing specific Pirpiruna songs, accompanying it by a dance, while covered in leaves and small branches. Referring to Pirpiruna, she remembers the songs on the day of Saint Lazar and the Christmas fasting.
Cite as: P'ip'irúdə l'átələ – Fly, fly, butterfly; performer: Maria Ivanova Dobreva; camera: Thede Kahl; interview: Tanya Dimitrova, Thede Kahl; transcription: Galina Emet, Thede Kahl; translation: Ani Antonova; editor: Ani Antonova; retrieved from www.oeaw.ac.at/VLACH, ID number: bass1265UAV0003a.