Calendars and their mystical songs

Undoubtedly there is something magical in the Bulgarian folk songs, something out of the ordinary. They seem to bring to our eyes a new and unknown world. A world filled with adventures, fabulous events, mythical creatures. A world from which we can draw a huge dose of inspiration. 

One of the most beloved Christian holidays is coming, namely - Christmas! Christmas is a favorite celebration of children and adults for many reasons. One of them is the carols and the "carol" ritual.

According to popular belief, when the midnight of Christmas comes, many evil creatures descend on the earth - vampires, karakondzhuli and others. The carols through their songs have the power to banish them. However, this power lasts only from midnight to sunrise. 

Let us now become acquainted with one, though insignificant, extremely important part of this world, namely, the carols!

Organization of carols 

The carol group consists mainly of young men - bachelors and recently married, but they are often joined by other members: an old man and a grandmother, whose roles are to make the hosts laugh, a trochober who collects gifts, a bagpiper and singers. The preparation of the carolers starts from Ignazhden. On this day, December 20, the memory of St. Ignatius the Godbearer is honored. Then the "resident" of the carolers - their leader - chooses who will be in the carol group. Young people are chosen who can sing and do not drink much, so as not to expose themselves. After the carol group is created, the songs are studied, and the first carol song is sung in the home of the stanenik, where the carolers gather during the preparation.

Intensive training is also underway on the part of the hosts. They have to clean the house, cook it and a bunch of other things. It is no coincidence that people have said that "one picture is equal to a thousand words". However, the songs can also say a lot in a few words. That's why here is a great folk song, illustrating the preparation of the hosts for the arrival of the carolers:

They love

Christmas is done, as we said, from midnight to sunrise. The carols go around the choirs in small groups, always heading east. In some areas, they are reeling, meowing and announcing their arrival. They are thick and festive, with caps, popcorn and wrists, and wearing gags in their hands.

Their tour begins with the most important person in the village - the dazzler, the mayor or someone else. The carols sing songs to celebrate first to the host and then to each family member. After their song, the host usually invites them around the table and draws them wine and brandy, and then gives them money, meat, beans, flour or whatever. The housekeeper, on the other hand, gives the wheat that the cauliflower has to sprinkle around the house to produce the crop. 

For the end or epilogue of the song cycle, the so-called "glory" or prayer uttered by the group leader when his hostess brings the festive cow is necessarily. In some places, married girls prepare, besides the ordinary, a special - colorful cow, on which they write the name of their beloved. They give these cows to the carols who exhibit them in a public place. The cows are bought by the young men in love with the girl. If more than one youngster is in love with the girl, they gain weight with each other. At the heart of this prayer is the belief that the word is magical and has the power to fulfill every human desire. Much weight is placed on the prompt and accurate pronouncement of glory. This is because it is a magic spell, and speed and accuracy are inherent in all spells. Calling for health and wealth, for example, ends with:

As many cows as this, 

so honorable and a banquet in this house!

Housewarming songs for the hosts

The songs to celebrate the host take center stage in the Christmas repertoire of songs. The main themes in these songs are about wealth, wealth, but the theme of health has never been overlooked. The flock of sheep also holds an important place.

The estate of Stanenik

We have heard, heard, heard and understood,

you wretchedness, you sir.

That you have, you have, a son to marry,

a son to marry, a daughter to give,

a giving daughters, a horse to hound,

the horse to hail, the harness to harness,
yokes for yachting, money for counting,

money for counting, cloth for cutting, 

cloth to cut, wine to drink.

 Christmas songs for the rest of the family.

Except for the host, the carols sing songs for every family member - from the youngest to the oldest. The themes of the songs, as with the host, are about luck, happiness, health, love for the young.

For children

In many songs, the host child is portrayed as "riding a horse and leading an army" to win his father's inheritance. Here is an example:

Stannik to give his son as king

Bedding, sir,
Dan Bane, Dan voivodo,
we heard you and understood:
you have a blue-headed son,
silver-headed, golden-haired.
Give it, give it, give it, bath,
be king, be ban.
- I have, I have, I would not veil,
but we are very young,
very young, but stupid,
no army can tell
will not be able to hold a horse,
will not be able to develop
blue white fugues.
- Give it, Dan, give it, bath,
there are three kings in the king:
one to keep his horse,
others that his army redshirts,
others to develop it
blue white fugues.
Just to name a king,
the king calls it ban.

Other times, if the children are two, they are presented as "two pigeons, two falcons" who help each other find both a girl and a wedding. In some more amazing stories, the two pigeons as they fly find large and beautiful fish in a river, but to their surprise, when caught, it turns out that this is not a fish, but a girl for an older brother. 

He hears a mother of two pigeons

Stankin, sir!
He hears a macaw two pigeons,
and he hears them, he hears them,
and they arose and flew.
One fly over Zagorje,
then fly to Zagorje;
others flying over the white Danube,
and fly behind the white Danube.
But the little ones flew,
up to three days,
and they flew, they flew,
she passes two tests.
Younger Talks:
- Aunt, brother, older brother,
as you fly over the white Danube,
do you see anything anywhere? -
Older talking:
- Aunt, brother, younger brother,
but I flew, and I saw
catfish on the White Danube.
Land a thin web,
to go fanny,
to fish for catfish. -
Again the old man replies,
meets young:
- Aunt, brother, younger brother,
when flying over Zagorje,
do you see anything anywhere? -
The younger responds:
- Ali I went over Zagorje,
did I go, did I see;
so I saw a little girl.
Let's get the fish caught,
catfish on the White Danube,
to go over Zagorje,
to land a little girl,
little girl for you
yes, brother, you get married. -
Bedding, sir,
we drink you two twins!

About the girl

Many songs deal with the usual theme of love. Often, falling in love with a girl is presented as tearing an apple from a tree that the girl planted. This tree is wonderful - it blooms and bears fruit for a day, and often falcons or pigeons land on it. 

Golden apples for girls

Erected an apple tree to three sticks,
up to three apple sticks.
Where did you see them crazy young,
and jump up to two heels,
and tear off the golden apples,
that he went to the girls,
to give them to the girls:
“To you, lad, golden apples.