Bulgarian National Folklore
Project “European Multiguide” 2012 - 2014
Bulgaria is a small European country with a rich folklore
history and traditions.
During the centuries different groups of people have gradually added
their specific characteristics.
Nowadays we have a great variety of different folk costumes, songs,
dances and musical instruments.
There are seven ethnographic folklore regions:
● Dobrudja
● North Bulgaria
● Sofia region- Shopluk
● Thrace
● Strandja
● Pirin
● Rhodopes
North Bulgaria
Dobrudja
Strandja
Shopluk
Thrace
Pirin
Rhodopes
Each region has its own folk features.
Bulgarian
National
Costumes
Folklore
costumes are
always
embroidered with
colourful figures
of shapes,
animals and
birds, many
flowers. Different
regions have their
own patterns,
braids, sequins.
Man’s folk costume is traditionally white or dark brown or black.
It consists of pants, a cotton
shirt with long sleeves,
a typical elek - a kind of
vest, a belt and a hat.
The shoes are made of leather. The
coat is called yamurluk.
Some examples of man’s shirt and elek ( vest ) from different regions
Woman’s folk costume traditionally includes a long blouse like a
dress, a skirt, an apron or two aprons - front and back, a dress called
saya, a belt, a handkerchief for the head, and leather shoes.
Women wear a lot of accessories like pafti - for the belt,
kosichnik for the hair
and pendari –
necklace.
Women’s folk costumes from different regions
Variety of folk costumes
Typical Bulgarian folk instruments and
music performed by them:
Kaval –
Gaida –
an end-blown
a traditional
goat-skin
flute
bagpipe
Gadulka -
Tambura –
a bowed string
Instrument.
a metal strings
type of lute
Tapan – a large drum worn over the shoulder
Bulgarian folk songs and dances
Folk dances are various
according to the region they
represent.
Some are fast and playful,
others are slow and steady.
The most difficult are the
Shoppe and Pirin dances.
The most popular and loved
dances are: the Thracian horo,
the Danube horo, Elenino horo
and Rachenitsa.
Examples of typical Bulgarian folk dances
Petrunino horo
Elenino horo
Typical folk song called
“Little young woman was gathering flowers”
presented by BG pupils team
The original song’s
link
In the presentation are used photos from the sites:
www.horo.bg, www.balkanfolk.bg, nosii.bg.
Thank you for your attention!!!