Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1877-06-23
BULGARIANS IN TURKEY.
Their narriage Customs, Dancing
and Music.

The dress Of the bulgarian women, and |
indeed OF the men also is very pictur-
csque The former wear costumes OF
brilliant colors peculiar to each village,
which is another sign OF the power OF
the Bulgari,llto sink individuality in the
common interest. The village costumes
are very varied and brilliant. but the
culors are 50 well chosen that the effect
is harmonious aud pleasing to the eye.
Their belts, bracelets and head orna-
meuts, made from allUyed silver, are
very elaborate and much priced. They
are handed down from mother 10 dauSh-
as family heir-loUms. CurIous.y enough,
the form of the large round clasps OF
these belts much resemble those OF the
Etruscans which have been found III an
cicut cAcavationsiu in Italy. 1t Is possible
that this NAV form Il link in cthnoio.y
The peasant women would naturally lOi-
low their ornamental customs through
generations upon generations. The Bul-
Tarian- married the SCiavOnlan women,
and II i quite possible that the ancient
Etruscans might have been of the Scla-
Nunir branch Oi the Argan race.
The bulgarian women marry young,
hut from the habit OF sucking their chill
dreu up to three and four years OF age,
! they soon lose their youthful appearance
I and AT two-aud-twcntv hook old and nag
/ gard. They are very domestic; there
/ i much family affection and but little
iuarrcling. probably because the wom-
| cm have their time 50 fully occupied.
OF course there are occasional cases OF
! ii treatment and wite-beatIng, as IL
/ England. but it Is quite the exception.
and not the rule. Ceremony IL consplc-
uUuS among tucm, especially at we'd
dings and burials The former is an
occasion tor 4 general feast III the VII
lage and the peasant bridegroom vii
spend a much as go OF 80 III wine
and sheep for the carousa.s, which las
three or four days, accompanied by al
most continuous dancing. The friends
ui the bridegroom dance their way t
the friends OF the bride to the sound "
the drum and bagpipe, and vice versa
Then the presents are exhibited. whIci
consist chiefly OF emUr0!dereu handkef
chiefs The bridegroom pins THESE "l
hi. coat. and thus decorated joins IN th'
dance The night before the marriage
the bride takes a bath, the first She ha
ever had in her lite the great ceremon.
OF crUwning the bride takes place cithe
in the church or the Dlidegroom'S house
= in the presence. ul their friends. In
. priest performs the service. The hrld
} arrive, on horseback covered with lUni
I veil, and 4 protuslon OF gold uu>el I"
e her head
purtug the service crown made {
p allowed silver is placed upon her heat
Y Grain and raisins are scattered over tn
y happy pair and among the friends, 4 V;
i rietv of terms are gone through. and tn
{ marriage ceremony is completed In
bride Kisses the hands of her friends wit
/ 4 very slow and digniiied inclination. I'll
|. dancing is renewed, and the tired coup
: are lett in solitude.
: The Bu.garIans are peculiarly fond
Il dancing, which is usually practiced
{, the sound OF the bagpipe. The womt
" and men Join hands until they form
long line. which then serpentlnes abc
/ to a slow movement which seems To lIa'
ii great fascination. and 10 produce 2 50
of quiet cc>tacy.
y y The bagpipc is similar in every /
- Succt to that used in Scotland. and h
J.. inw struck by the likeness OF the instr
mrut. asked whether they had a
QUICK dances. ne Icp.N W IL III INT
=, tirmutive, and to my establishment I
I piper at once struck up tune wh
- would have made an excellent aCcOl
", paniment to a Highland reel. and "
:. men stood up and danced with that sal
y. solemnitv and air of Importance viii
-, we see in Scotland 1t is most rem Al
able that the dances are rs near as p'
no sihe alike; there Is the occasional shoi
H., the swapping Ot the fingers, the Sudd
~ -, turning OF the body, and the steps a
~ also very similar.
as Again, we find the musical accompal
H. ments the same; and when we conSid
o. how dances preserve their character oV
he many ages, we can hardly deny the &C
.. cuSion that the ancestors of the Scot
ne Highlander and the Bulgarian mi
have had the same dancing-maSters.
I'll The dance may probably have trav
he ed westward with the ancient cmigr;
Ii population from the confines OF Chi
id and Hlmalavas. | was anxious to fl
an ther test the similarity in music, SO Il
re ing the piper on one side, | as ked h
th tu let me hear the sort OF air he wol
play if. for example. he had lost his
sts trothed | found that had most |
ch Willingly struck a note OF real sorro
for the tears came into the eyes ui
poor young fellow, and he retired int
!. recess in the room, and played one
rs those sad and Wild pibrochs that we
ri ten hear in the Scotch Highlands /
% ker's Turkey.