from spartacus to krum the new 359: Babin Den

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Babin Den

On January 21st the was a Bulgarian holiday called Babin Den (Бабин Ден) which is a women's holiday. Baba means grandmother in Bulgarian, but when you say Babi it means something similar to midwives. The Babi helped women deliver children in the village before there was westernized medical care available to them in neighboring large citites like Varna. So this day is dedicated to them and open to all the women in the village. We met in the Community Center for food, dancing, a traditional clothing contest, and a general all around party.


Opening of the ceremony during a foggy Avren day

washing of hands with holy water

The only men that were allowed in were the DJ and the accordion player. Women who had children within the past year were given special gift bags. There was food, wine, and horo dancing after that. Most of the older Bulgarian women were dressed in traditional outfits for a fashion show/contest of the most colorful/best looking. My landlady, Stoyka, had to work this party since she works in the cafeteria of the Community Center SO I got to wear her family's outfit to enter into the contest. I tied for first place and got a certificate, a printed picture of me walking the "catwalk", and a giant sweet roll.

Presents for the new mothers

Food: Meats (sausage and chicken), Salad, Banitsa, Salad again, and Pickled Veggies

Outfit from the front

Outfit from the back

Stoyka and I

Victory

Janet and Denise some of my local British Expat friends came as well

Then came much more dancing in the forms of traditional Bulgarian horo and the Romani kuchek. Everyone participated in both dance styles, including the kids, and it was great fun. I was dance adopted a few times by some babas who wanted to teach me better kuchek, its harder then it looks.