Етикети

сряда, 30 май 2012 г.

Bulgarian Folk Costumes

                                                             Shoppe female folk costume
                                                                   and little funny face

                                                              Shoppe male folk costume.

The rain





The rain falling softly upon her face,
Takes her to a magical place.
The rain falling softly in her hair,
Lets her soul float upon the air.
The rain touching her lips,
Give her the breath of life in little sips.
The rain falling softly from the sky,
Lets her know that heaven,
Is where good souls fly.


понеделник, 28 май 2012 г.

Wonderful World


                                             Let's world prove to you how wonderful it is !

The Beautiful Flower



there was once a beautiful flower sitting in the meadow
while I got out of my bed to my window
the field was very beautiful and grassy
the beautiful flower was feeling sassy
as it stand tall above all of the flowers in the meadow
I wanted to get something to drink so I left the window
the beautiful flower try to look for me
the beautiful wanted to see
me at the window looking at the flowers beauty and grace
but there was a sad look on her face
when I came back with with a drink of water
the beautiful flower felt better
the beautiful flower posed and danced
but I did not glanced
then I looked down and saw another beautiful flower
the first flower was a sunflower
and the second flower was pink with a green in the middle
the second beautiful flower started to fiddle
the first beautiful flower got so mad she grabed her
and threw the second flower ferther
from the meadowly field of the uncool flowers
but the rain shower
it was coming in 5 minutes and the beautiful flower was sad
but I looked down with a smile and she was glad
then the rain started the flower went home to her friend
the end

chella Death

събота, 26 май 2012 г.

St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral; Sofia; Photography



The St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (Bulgarian: Храм-паметник „Свети Александър Невски“, Hram-pametnik „Sveti Aleksandar Nevski“) is a Bulgarian Orthodox cathedral in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Built in Neo-Byzantine style, it serves as the cathedral church of the Patriarch of Bulgaria and is one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world, as well as one of Sofia's symbols and primary tourist attractions] The St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia occupies an area of 3,170 square metres (34,100 sq ft) and can hold 10,000 people inside It is the second biggest cathedral located on the Balkan Peninsula after the Cathedral of Saint Sava in Belgrade.
Architecture

The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a cross-domed basilica featuring an emphasized central dome. The cathedral's gold-plated dome is 45 m high (148 ft), with the bell tower reaching 53 metres (174 ft). The temple has 12 bells with total weight of 23 tons, the heaviest weighing 12 tons and the lightest 10 kilograms (22 lb). The interior is decorated with Italian marble in various colours, Brazilian onyx, alabaster, and other luxurious materials. The central dome has the Lord's Prayer inscribed around it, with thin gold letters.
Design and construction


The construction of the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral started in 1882] (having been planned since 19 February, 1879), when the foundation stone was laid, but most of it was built between 1904 and 1912. Saint Alexander Nevsky was a Russian prince. The cathedral was created in honour to the Russian soldiers who died during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878, as a result of which Bulgaria was liberated from Ottoman rule.

The cathedral was designed by Alexander Pomerantsev, aided by Alexander Smirnov and Alexander Yakovlev, as the initial 1884-1885 project of Ivan Bogomolov was radically changed by Pomerantsev. The final design was finished in 1898, and the construction and decoration were done by a team of Bulgarian, Russian, Austro-Hungarian and other European artists, architects and workers, including the aforementioned architects, as well as Petko Momchilov, Yordan Milanov, Haralampi Tachev, Ivan Mrkvička, Vasily D. Bolotnov, Nikolay A. Bruni, A.A. Kiselyov, Anton Mitov and many others.

The marble parts and the lighting fixtures were created in Munich, the metal elements for the gates in Berlin, while the gates themselves were manufactured in Karl Bamberg's factory in Vienna, and the mosaics were shipped from Venice.
Name changes

The name of the cathedral was briefly changed to the Sts. Cyril and Methodius Cathedral between 1916 and 1920 (since Bulgaria and Russia belonged to opposing alliances in WWI), but then the initial name was restored. The St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral was proclaimed a monument of culture on 12 September 1924.
Relics

To the left of the altar is a case displaying relics of Alexander Nevsky, given by the Russian Orthodox Church. Although the accompanying Bulgarian-language plaque refers simply to "relics" (мощи), the item on display appears to be a piece of a rib.


                                           from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Nevsky_Cathedral,_Sofia
                                           photography: Yo Alexander

понеделник, 21 май 2012 г.

Happiness...Phillips Brooks

                                                    Happiness is the natural flower of duty!

сряда, 29 февруари 2012 г.

Честита Баба Марта / Мартеници


                                                              Martenici,  handmade by Nel

сряда, 1 февруари 2012 г.

Kukeri Festival "Surva" 2012

   BOOM BAM ...Now is the time to banish evil spirits and pray for good, health and fruitful year.
   I am telling you about  bulgarian Kukeri masquerade festival in Pernik sity called "Surva" . This is one of the most colorful and interesting events in my country.
     Masquerade rituals come from old pagan times and are still alive in the Bulgarian folklore tradition.
Bulgarian masquerade games are mainly interwoven in the contexts of the holidays between Christmas and Easter. In different regions of Bulgaria men put on masks around New Year, during the twelve days of Christmas (Christmas till Epiphany), on Sirni Zagovezni (the Sunday before Lent), and on Todorova Nedelia (the Sunday before the start of the Easter Fast).
In Western Bulgaria, the people who perform these rituals around New Year are known as Survakari while those who participate in the pre-spring masquerade games are referred to as Kukeri.
The symbolic meaning of the winter and pre-spring rituals performed by single men is related to the end of the old year and the advent of the new and to the upcoming awakening of nature for new life. These rituals represent the wish for a rich harvest, health and fertility for humans and farm animals. They are intended to chase away the evil spirits and prepare people for a new beginning. 





    Kukeri Ritual Games 
In ancient times the old Thracians held the Kukeri  Ritual Games in honour of god Dionysus - the especially known as a god of wine and ecstasy. Even today these games are also known as the Dionysus’ games. Among the Kukeri dancers’ are many characters, including Dionysus and his satyrs as well as others from deep history such as the  tsar, harachari, plyuvkachi, startzi, and pesyatzi.
   The masked participants are called kukeri, kukove, survakari, startsi, babugeri, dzhamailari, kamilari, dividjii...

                                                                    Bear Ritual Dance
 



                                                                        The Masks

   In Bulgarian folklore, the mask is believed to protect its wearer against powers of impure nature. This is the most probable explanation why the masks look like fearful creatures with huge jaws and awesome teeth, with horns and tails, with snapping beaks and grisly bodies.



The sound of the bells hanging from the belts of the participants enhances their effect.



   Sometimes the mask is not that complicated. Participants from some regions use charcoal to paint their faces black and sheep’s wool to make moustaches and beards.
   Bulgarian ceremonial masks are a valuable source of information for the various folklore regions in the country. It is typical for the masks worn in the region of Pernik that they are made of sheep and goat furs, wings and feathers, horns, corn leaves and hemp. Masks from other regions are usually made of cloth, wool, and parched plants. They are often decorated with beads and paper flowers.
  All masks are made by the persons who wear them or with the help of craftsmen known throughout the village for their skill. It is a long and complicated process. Shrouded in mystery, it is almost a ritual in its own right.

   The group consists of various different characters. Traditionally all parts are played by men dressed in carnival costumes. More often than not, they carry symbolic objects with which they perform their rituals.

                                        Old people characters - grandmother and grandfather


                                                                  Scary old woman


 Since the days of the Bulgarian Cultural Revival characters from the neo folklore culture have started to appear in the rituals. Significant political changes and social issues still produce parodies of representatives of different social classes. Nowadays the minimum requirement for participation is having the willingness to take part, therefore it is not uncommon to see toddlers walking side by side with 70-year carnival veterans and women and young girls who feel part of the tradition put on masks and costumes and go out with the rest of the bunch.


 
This little baby was very seriosly all the time...probably because it was very cold.














                                                                   The Dance
The dance of the masked men is a mystic unity of rhythm, sound, and color. They move in a special step. Wearing impressive masks and unique costumes they fill the air of the villages with the sounds of hundreds of bells and whispered blessings wishes for prosperity.

...other characters...



...more masks...