Folklore

Bulgaria has exceptionally rich and fascinating folklore, encompassing folk dances, tales and legends, riddles, proverbs and customs. Its main themes include the relationship between people and nature, the figures of the maiden and the hero, everyday life, agriculture and marriage. There are seven folklore regions, each with its characteristic traditions, musical instruments, dances and costumes: Pirin, Thrace, Shopluk, Strandzha, Dobruja, the Rhodopes and Northern Bulgaria.

Bulgarian folk dances vary from region to region. The same horo may be danced one way in one area and in a modified form elsewhere while retaining its basic rhythms. Speaking of rhythm, it is worth observing that Bulgarian rhythms and time signatures are not only exceptionally numerous but often have unequal beats not found in Western folk dances. These consist of simple two- and three-unit metres which, when joined and performed rapidly, form groups of unequal duration. Examples include five-unit metres (5/8, 5/16), seven-unit metres in three groups (7/8) and eleven-unit metres in five groups (11/8, 11/6). Remarkably, Bulgarian folklore also contains songs with no fixed metre, known as unmeasured songs. They are typically performed more slowly, with certain phrases sustained and ornamented.