The costume is shown in March in the calendar 2022, 14 sheets, wall, with folk costumes "А Pirin Girl from the Razlog region"
👉 You can view the calendar here.
❤ Lachezara Pramatarova from Razlog wore the costume.
❤ The costume is from the fund of the Historical Museum - Razlog.
❤ We truly thank the Municipality of Razlog for the support in publishing this calendar!
👉 The city costume from Razlog consists of short shirt (koshulya), which is covered by the outwear, with small raised collar and rich lace on the sleeves. Above is with finely pleated brown foustan – named “geziya” (local name – dzhiziya), made from fabric colored cotton yarn, decorated with two or three satin ribbons from lighter cloth at the skirts. Dzhiziyata has a closed upper part of the bosom.
The waist is girded with a festive velvet apron (futa) with embroidered flowers and black lace at the edges.
To compensate for the short shirt and "foustan", socks become taller - black or white, up to above the knee. She is wearing a black velvet “contosh” with a feminine narrowing at the waist.
On the head has a veil - "parlenda" (made of thin cotton or silk fabric framed with black lace), the ends of which cross at the back and are tied at the nape of the neck. The bosom is decorated with a silver button - a metal circle with openwork metal plates hanging from below, and under the "jufka" of the veil there is a silver chain with diamond-shaped plates that rings when moving.
Both hands are decorated with bracelets. All metal jewelry has a decorative and apotropaic role, to protect its wearer from “uroki” and evil eyes. Except metal, silver is also white, which reflects the gaze or thoughts and returns them to their source, on the principle of a mirror. Perhaps these deep-rooted beliefs made silver a favorite metal during the Renaissance for the master goldsmiths who made women's “gizdila”.
Due to its comfort and feminine appearance, it became a favorite garment in the Razlog region until the middle of the twentieth century. At modern dance parties, women dressed in skirts danced European dances. The images in the old photos show how girls of the same age were photographed in a costume - traditional for the area, and a “fusta” with “contosh”. Such a mixture reveals to us the diversity of understanding, tastes, lifestyle, social status, but also the level of emancipation in these mountainous areas. This festive clothing is typical for ready-to-marry girls, who so prepared, went to the megdan, to the round dance, went to an engagement or a wedding, etc.
👉 The costume was worn by a delicate Pirin flower Lachezara Pramatarova. If her mysterious smile impressed you, here's more about this girl from her performance:
"I am from Razlog, I was born and raised in Razlog. I am named after my grandfather Lazar. I love Lazarus Day and the lazars dancing on the holiday. I have been training folk dances for years, I like folk music, dances and walks with my friends. I love folklore, I have been taught since I was a child to love and respect Bulgarian. Everyone in my family likes and participates in folk traditions - we wear costumes and make mummers for every New Year. We observe all local holidays and customs. I really like that the people in Razlog are united, gather on holidays, laugh, have fun, play.
Another time I wore old costumes and the feeling is amazing. We keep an old refugee costume in our family. I often dress in costume, in addition to the participation of the dance group, of which I am a member of "Razlozhenche".
For me, Bulgaria is a unique place with unique people and traditions. "
👉 The photos for the calendar were taken within the project "Study of the specifics and richness of national costumes from the Razlog region in the light of cultural diversity" is realized with the financial support of the National Culture Fund under the program "Cultural Heritage".
