MUMMERS’ GAMES IN VRESOVO VILLAGE – RUEN

The games are held the first Sunday in March. Small groups of mummers visit all houses to banish evil spirits, to bring good health and prosperity in every home throughout the year.

LAZARUS’DAY IN RAJITSA VILLAGE, LYULYAKOVO VILLAGE – RUEN

The ritual is held on Lazarus’s Day, which is on the Saturday before Palm Sunday, a week before Easter. The key performers in the custom are girls from 5-6 years to 10-12 years old. In the village of Lyulyakovo people perform the ritual with a doll that is dressed in female clothes: bride – white shirt, dress, skirt and belt. The doll’s head is covered with a red veil and it is decorated with flowers and wreaths. With this doll in hands, the girls go round the houses and sing for health. Through this ritual the introduction of girls in society is performed.  Girls visit each house in the village and perform special ritual songs and dances with motives of love and marriage. In folk tradition “lazarouvane” was mandatory for every girl, without it she cannot marry.