Festive costume, worn from the beginning to the 40s of the XX century, very typical for Razlog -January in the calendar for 2022 - 14 sheets, wall, with folk costumes "А Pirin Girl from the Razlog region" ❤
You can view the entire calendar here.
👉 The costume is composed of a „foustan” - gezya (dzhiziya) in purple color - very popular and characteristic of the Razlog region, made of home-woven fine wool fabric with different shades. The upper part is attached to the torso with a fastening at the top with well-covered wire buttons. On both sides is applied a decoration of vertical strips of cut velvet. The edge around the neck and sleeves are also trimmed with velvet.
Under the „geziya” is a shirt with wide sleeves, decorated with "zapeski" and a finish with a large hand-knitted lace („prinka“). The velvet appliques combine beautifully with the festive velvet „futa”, embroidered with flowers and decorated with black lace end. On it is placed a velvet belt with rich embroidery and framing with white beads on both sides. The belt is fastened with small round silver buckles with embossed openwork buckle, which complete the festive look of the suit.
The feet are shod with finely knitted white socks with colorful decorations on the feet and toes. The finish is with black leather shoes with side fastening.
The head is covered with a veil, called "kavrak" in the area - cotton or silk with a square shape and beautiful prints at the end. It is folded in two and both ends pass behind and are tied in a "dzufka" on one side of the head. The hair is divided into a path, braided into two braids, gathered in a common at the lower end. This hairstyle for married women, because the girls are braided into “lesa” (numerous small braids) or an even number of braids.
In cold weather, to this urban clothing, as an outer garment they put a „contosh“ / black jacket / - short to the waist with long sleeves, made of velvet or cloth in black or dark color and collar of animal skin.
These ornaments are for a girl who is engaged or young bride, оnly they can be with jewelry . Her breasts are decorated with a pendant made of silver cinder with a pendar, she has silver earrings (mingushi) on her ears and a hinged silver bracelet on her arm. The beautiful belt is fastened with silver buckles to emphasize her status of already bound, and her overall appearance suggests that she is from a good and wealthy family.
❤ Ralitsa Yurukova from Razlog wore the costume.
❤ The costume is from the fund of the Historical Museum - Razlog.
❤ Many thanks to the Municipality of Razlog for the support in publishing this calendar!
🌞 Ralitsa is not just a beautiful face. See more about this patriotic girl in her business card here:
"My name is Ralitsa Yurukova and I study international relations at Sofia University" St. Kliment Ohridski ". I like to spend a lot of time outside, in nature, as well as to travel and visit new places. I grew up in Razlog, as did my whole family. My name is a typical Bulgarian name and that's why my parents liked it. My family respects folk traditions. Perhaps my first memory is when I first took part in "Starchevata" in a bear costume, because it was extremely interesting for me to be a little different from the other participants in the festival. The very fact that I was born in Razlog and participate in "Starchevata" is a prerequisite for the fact that I like the fact that the people from my area continue the tradition and are interested in it. Everyone knows the customs and follows them zealously, which is not found everywhere.
Wearing a costume for more than 100 years is unique and unrepeatable. I would always wear a costume. Occasions, in my city, are many, but most of all I like to wear a costume on January 1st. For me, Bulgaria is a paradise on earth. "
👉 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".
👉 Photographer: Petar Petrov
