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Insight Bulgaria
Superstitions and Proverbs

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This is the Bulgarian national anthem!

Superstitions
Those everyday events which mean so much!
Tell me punk... do you feel lucky? Well, you see, it all depends where you are. Lucky black cat? Not in Bulgaria! If a black cat crosses your path it's especially bad, and you really should hop three times, turning in a complete circle as you do so. My husband does this. It's a bit embarrassing. He's quite tall and noticeable - that's because he never walks under the double telegraph poles here, the not-walking-under-ladders equivalent. Otherwise he'd be a dwarf.
Ever wondered about the logic of umbrella stands? What a silly idea for a wet brolly. Unfortunately for us Brits, having an open umbrella indoors invites a multitude of woes. For the Bulgars however, this is just a practical way of drying the thing off. How sensible.
A sixpenny mix of delights awaits us in the food and drink department. I often huff and puff my way up the stairs with my bags of shopping, and throw my newly baked loaf of bread onto the table... but ooohhh dear, it's upside down - not good. (Plenty of upside down horseshoes around though, tut tut.) Spilling salt is no big deal here. Taking a pinch and throwing it over your left shoulder into the devil's face? Bunkum, m' dear! Ah, now, spilling wine is pretty serious stuff - this means a dead person needs a drink. Some people dampen a finger with the wine and make the sign of the cross with it on their children's foreheads. Better safe than sorry!
Haaaatishooo!! A sneeze will be answered by your companion saying three numbers. Tot them up, and find the corresponding letter of the alphabet. Hey presto, you have the first letter of a name... the name of the person who's thinking about you. Want to find your future spouse? A ladybird will tell you. Catch one in your hand and release it, reciting a little rhyme - and it will fly off in the correct direction. Amazing! Nice word for ladybird in Bulgarian - Kalinka.

Proverbs
Wise words - if you can understand them!
Bulgarian proverbs can be divided up into two groups - the fairly understandable ones and those needing a little further explanation. I hope you'll agree that the following are not only wise - but clear in meaning.

He who sings thinks no evil.
When you let go of the tame, you chase the wild.
Angry Peter, empty basket.
The legs of the lie are short.
Morning is wiser than evening.
Measure seven times - cut once.
The mad never tire - they just sweat.
Drop by drop - lake.
United company lifts a mountain.

In a situation in which chaos reigns supreme, the Bulgarian sage will utter the incomprehensible words... The horse goes to the river. Very appropriate, couldn't have put it better myself. In this panic-driven scenario, there may be one final choice to be made, the only option, the last resort - yes, you've guessed it, the ninth hole of the flute. You may think it's just another typical cooking session with Claire as you hear the crashing about in the kitchen, but no. The saucepan rolled and found its lid can best be translated as birds of a feather flock together - in this case, my delicious chicken Véronique, a dish consisting of chicken cooked with wine, lemon and cream, and, glory of glories, halved grapes added before serving. Food with grapes!!! In other words, unthinkable. Why use grapes for food when you can use them supremely in the production of rakia, the famous Bulgarian brandy? I don't know - perhaps before I left England, someone could have advised me that every frog should stay in its own swamp.

I hope you have enjoyed these insights. I hope to gather together some thoughts on festivals celebrated here and post them up soon! But as they say - "Wait, Grandma, for beauty...".


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