THE BULGARIAN AGRICULTURAL BANK

The Bulgarian Agricultural Financial institution owes its’ origin to an establishment courting from the time of the Turkish domination.

In 1863 Midhat Pasha, Governor of the Danubian Vilayet, ready a scheme for the creation of “ city ” banks, which have been supposed to help the agricultural inhabitants. The scheme having been accepted by the Turkish Authorities, a number of of those banks have been established in the middle of the identical yr. The peasants have been allowed to repay in form the loans which have been superior to them, the banks themselves promoting the agricultural merchandise. With the article of accelerating the capital of the banks, a particular tax was launched obliging the farmers handy yearly to those establishments a part of their produce in form.

When it was realised that these banks have been of nice service to the agricultural inhabitants, to which they superior cash at 12 per cent, curiosity as an alternative of 30100 per cent., because the usurers usually did—the Turkish Authorities prolonged the reform to the entire empire, and obliged the peasants^ to create related banks in all of the district centres.

In accordance with their statutes onethird of the online income of those banks have been destined for works of public utility, comparable to bridges, roads, fountains, faculties, and many others., whereas the remaining twothirds went to extend the capital of the banks.

On the eve of the creation of the Principality, these banks dealt in three sorts of transactions: private loans, loans on securities, and mortgage loans.

A number of of those banks

In the course of the RussoTurkish battle, a number of of those banks misplaced their fortunes, the functionaries of the Turkish Authorities having carried away all of the funds, in addition to the securities and different property belonging to the banks’ shoppers. After the battle, the debtors refused to pay, and solely a part of the property of the banks was restored, by way of the difficulty of latest bonds. Owing to the destruction or lack of the registers and different paperwork, it has been not possible to find out the precise situation of the banks at that interval.

On June 20th, 1879, Provisional Russian Administration revealed new laws making use of to the city banks of Northern Bulgaria, which have been then for the primary time known as “agricultural banks.”

In accordance with the disposition of those new laws, the agricultural banks needed to search for their shoppers among the many agricultural lessons. The pet income from the sale of the agricultural merchandise have been, as earlier than, reserved for the rise of the funds of the banks.

IMITATION AND FOREIGN INFLUENCE

DURING the primary years after the liberation of the Principality the international artists who had been referred to as to Bulgaria, and the Bulgarians who had graduated on the numerous European academies of fantastic arts, discovered no hint of an artwork which might be stated to fulfill the necessities of the time. However in return they found an abundance of topics which have been fairly new to them: wild and romantic surroundings which the peasants’ creativeness had peopled with legendary beings, and heroes whose reminiscence nonetheless survived in legends and within the nationwide songs which had not as but been affected by the brand new circumstances of life. Unique structure, preserved within the cities and villages, and attention-grabbing each in its basic character and in picturesque particulars, provided tempting sights to the artist.

There have been additionally the assorted nationwide varieties of their curious costumes Bulgarians, Turks, Gypsies and the opposite Oriental nationalities. The nation was coated with ruins of previous church buildings and fortifications bearing proof of the ravages of time and an detached inhabitants. If we add the contemporary recollections from private balkan trip the revolutionary interval and from the unequal battle with the nationwide oppressors, we get a good suggestion of the wealthy topics and supplies which have been nonetheless ready for inventive therapy.

Who had lived in Bulgaria

Neither have been the artists gradual to avail themselves of those beneficial circumstances. These amongst them who had lived in Bulgaria, or who, with out visiting the nation, took an curiosity in its historical past and inhabitants, present in these a plentiful provide of latest themes for his or her inspiration.

Thus we discover Holarek, a few of whose photos have been acquired by the State and are actually the property of the Bulgarian Nationwide Museum, going to Bulgarian historical past of the eleventh century and taking as topic for his bestknown image an episode from the momentous battle of the Bulgarian King Samuel with the Greek Emperor Basil I., identified additionally below the title of the “ Killer of the Bulgarians” in consequence of his order for the blinding of 11,000 Bulgarian troopers taken captive.

Piotrovsky, in his image ” The Bloodbath by the Bashi bazouks,” has borrowed his topic from latest Bulgarian historical past the atrocities dedicated in 1876 by Bashibazouks, Gypsies, and Turkish irregulars which crammed Europe, and particularly England, with horror, and first raised the query of bettering the lot of the oppressed Bulgarians. In the identical means Boloungaro, in his image 11 Night/’ represents a Bulgarian panorama with peasants, whereas Arndt treats the break of “ St. Sofia ” and the adjoining Turkish quarter in winter.

 

But the castle gates were not opened

She had her room in a turret in a distant a part of the fort, and spent her time embroidering pretty banners; she discovered repose in praying to God and in looking of her window on the emerald panorama and the azure sky. How usually, at evening, had she risen from her mattress and gone to the window to gaze on the stars! How usually had the center of this sixteen-year-old baby leaped up towards the vasty areas of the heavens, asking her radiant sisters of the firmament what it was that so troubled her!

And after these sleepless nights, these first stirrings of her but unconscious love, she would have unusual promptings urging her to embrace the tough previous knight her uncle. However a brief reply or a stern look would test her impulse, and all atremble she would take up her needle once more. You might be sorry, Nanon, for the poor baby: she was like a fresh-scented flower whose loveliness and scent are alike spurned.

Good-looking younger man

In the future as poor Odette was sitting at her window following together with her eyes the flight of two doves, she heard a smooth voice far beneath her on the foot of the fort wall. She leaned out and noticed a good-looking younger man who, with a track on his lips, demanded hospitality of the inmates of the fort. Although she listened intently, she couldn’t perceive what he stated, however the candy voice made her coronary heart heavy, and the tears ran slowly down her cheeks, wetting the sprig of marjoram which she held in her hand.

However the fort gates weren’t opened, and a man-at-arms cried out from the partitions:

“Stand again. Solely troopers are admitted right here.”

Odette continued to look out of the window. She let slip the flower from her hand, nonetheless moist together with her tears. It fell close to the toes of the singer who, elevating his eyes and seeing the honest hair of the woman, kissed the sprig and turned away, although he stopped at each step to look again. After he had disappeared, Odette went to her prie-dieu and prayed a very long time. She gave because of heaven, she knew not why; she felt glad, although she didn’t suspect the rationale of her happiness.

And that evening she dreamed an exquisite dream. She noticed once more the sprig of marjoram she had thrown to the younger man. Slowly, out of the midst of the quivering leaves, there emerged a tiny fairy, with flame-colored wings, a crown of myosotis and an extended gown of inexperienced, the colour of hope.

The Bulgarian Agrarian

The financial coverage of the individuals’s rule was aimed on the gradual ousting of all capitalists from the economic system and at its socialist reconstruction. April 1947 noticed the institution of the beginnings of a deliberate economic system in Bulgaria with the adoption of a two-year financial plan. By the top of the identical yr the personal industrial enterprises, mines and banks within the nation have been nationalized.

The First 5-12 months Financial Plan was labored out in 1948 and the foundations of a socialist society in Bulgaria started to be constructed. The anti-popular opposition was routed, the Social-Democratic Social gathering merged with the Communist Social gathering, whereas the remaining events with the one exception of the Bulgarian Social gathering disbanded themselves of their very own free will. The Bulgarian Agrarian Social gathering remained unbiased and takes half within the nation’s administration shoulder to shoulder with the Communist Social gathering. The primary long-term treaties of friendship, cooperation and mutual help have been signed in 1948 with the Soviet Union and the European individuals’s democratic states, and in the course of the subsequent decade Bulgaria turned cofounder of the Council for Mutual Financial Help and of the Warsaw Treaty for protection of the socialist states.

A hopeful Steadiness Sheet

The ninth of September revolution ushered in a brand new epoch within the historical past of the Bulgarian individuals. In solely a few many years Bulgaria turned from a backward agrarian nation, occupying one of many final locations in Europe for its nationwide earnings and dwelling requirements, into an unbiased socialist state with a developed business and modem agriculture, steady growth charges, a wealthy cultural life and always rising dwelling requirements of the individuals. Bulgaria’s nationwide earnings elevated 11-fold, agricultural output – over 3 times, industrial manufacturing – over 60 occasions, energy technology – over 100 occasions, the variety of college college students — nearly 20 occasions, and so forth.

Usually, I plan my holidays out of my nation however within the final years I’m critically considering of making an attempt.

As we speak Bulgaria ranks among the many international locations withlarge- scale modernly organized agriculture. Over 25 per cent of her arable land is irrigated and because of irrigation, trendy cultivation, introduction of chemical fertilizers and new plant varieties, Bulgaria has come as much as one of many main locations on the planet as regards yields. The common yields of wheat, for example, attain four,000 kg per hectare, of sugar beet – 35,000 per ha, of sunflower – 1,800 kg per ha, and so forth. Bulgaria is without doubt one of the world’s largest producers of tobacco and attar of roses, and one in all Europe’s largest exporters of recent and processed vegatables and fruits.

 

 

Established process

The sovereigns of the times alluded to, when in need of replenishment, were wont to send for some opulent Israelite, from whom it was the established process to extract tooth after tooth by royal command, until the reluctant victim could make up his mind to disgorge the required sum. Undismayed, however, by these sort of admonitory visitations, we find those ancient representatives of the monies interest invariably returning to their bureau and haunts of business, with as keen an avidity of pelf, as if nothing had happened as if the security of their gain was inviolable.

Now, in following up this inquiry, I persuade myself it will appear very remote from improbable, that what was wont to be practiced by the monarch on the Jew, is precisely that which the greater and victorious military state will seek to execute on the less formidable, but more wealthy one. And that amongst the first teeth, as a mere matter of course, attempted to be extracted from us, would indubitably be the “ keys,” as they are termed, “ of the Mediterranean,” Corfu, Malta, and Gibraltar.

Last stage of political

Many will refuse all credence, at least during’ our time, to the possibility of any such humiliation event. Others there are so various are opinions  who suspect that we are in the last stage of political and financial exhaustion, and that if anything derogatory be brought to bear against us, our best plan will be to submit retire within our own shores occupy ourselves thenceforward with an exclusive domestic industry, and avoid all further intermeddling with our neighbors; thus, say they, our burdensome colonies will be lost, and our money saved.

A no less numerous class are those who neither look before nor behind, and are strongly persuaded, that whatever is, will continue to be, at least, for as long as it is of any concernment to them to speculate upon. To rouse these sort of persons to any positive belief in the wicked designs of distant potentates, the basal lions which are to accomplish them must present themselves the cannon of the enemy must nearly echo upon their ears.

These doubt that any great changes take place without a lapse of ages intervening, although, in reality, change is no less the order of the political than the natural world; and is unceasingly presenting new combinations, with more or less of transition, as chance or skill directs its progress.

 

Society of Bulgarian Artists

The School of Painting is the connecting link between the two Art Societies in Bulgaria, the leading members of the older Society of Bulgarian Artists being professors in the school, while the founders and members of the new Society of Modem Art are mainly old students.

Society of Modem Art

The latter, together with other young artists who had graduated at the various academies abroad, formed the Society of Modem Art as a counterpoise to the Society of Bulgarian Artists, with which they were discontented owing to its inactivity and tutelage, as well as for its monopoly of all the State and Church orders. These were, however, not the only considerations which contributed to the starting of the new society. The avowed object of the Society of Modem Art, which originally existed only as a group of friends, was and remains as follows: (1) to bring together the various artists (architects, painters, sculptors, decorative artists), art critics and, in general, lovers of art and Bulgaria private tours kazanlak , for the purpose of their mutual improvement and help; (2) to familiarise the public with modem art; (3) to study the origins of Bulgarian art, and to adapt what remains of it to modem conditions; (4) to ameliorate the material conditions of artistic work in Bulgaria.

The society, which counts at present some scores of active members, was founded in 1907 by three architects, a decorative artist, an art critic, three painters, and a woodcarver. The persons who ushered it into life, as will be seen, belonged to various branches of art, and had been brought together in the natural course of their several professions. They held in common certain principles, the most important of which was that the time had come to react against the conventional styles in which Bulgarian art had been stereotyped, and to stimulate artistic life in Bulgaria by acquainting it with the most recent artistic movements abroad.

Innovators though they were in some respects, they did not lose sight of the local and national conditions in which Bulgarian art was placed, and, while holding an open mind to the lessons inculcated by the more advanced art of Western Europe, they were determined to retain and encourage what was typically national in Bulgarian art. All these ends which the Society of Modem Art set before itself had nothing new in themselves, but they were for the first time taken in earnest, and propagated by means of art exhibitions, which finished by awakening public interest in art. This was the more desirable as the rival Society of Bulgarian Artists had entirely neglected this side of the question, engrossed as its members were in executing hurriedly, and not very carefully, the various public orders with which they had been commissioned.

Among the members of the older society the first place must be assigned to Ivan Markvitchka, Anton Mitoff, and Ivan Angeloff.

 

Assisted Roumanians

The war was waged between the Turks on the one hand, and the Russians, assisted by the Roumanians, on the other. The Bulgarians, for whose sake the battle was nominally being fought, were rather spectators than actors in the contest. Their sympathies were, no doubt, enthusiastically enlisted on the side of the Russians, to whom they furnished most valuable aid in the shape of information.

A considerable number of volunteer regiments were raised, and took part in the fighting. Still, even the Bulgarians themselves would hardly allege that the success of the campaign was mainly due to their assistance. If this was so there is no cause for blame. The peasants had had no military training or organization; they were very imperfectly provided with arms; they were cowed to some extent by the cruel reprisals which had followed the abortive insurrection; and, above all, they were haunted by the dread of being left at the mercy of their enemies, if the defeat of the Turks should not prove to be of a decisive character.

Russians conquered

Anyhow, the Russians conquered; and, in the flush of their victory, when their armies were almost within sight of Constantinople, they concluded the Treaty of San Sfefann by one of whose clauses Bulgaria and Eastern Roumelia were to be formed into an autonomous and independent State under Russian protection. The Western Powers, however, acting chiefly on the instigation of England, refused to ratify the Treaty of San Stefano. A Congress was held at Berlin to settle the terms of peace between Russia and Turkey. At this period Bulgaria was regarded as a mere outpost of Russia; and, in consequence, the Western Powers, who were opposed to the advance of Russia towards the Bosphorus, deemed it their interest to curtail in many ways the proposed enfranchisement of Bulgaria. By the Treaty of Berlin,

Roumelia was not allowed to be incorporated with. Bulgaria; the Turks were secured the right of erecting! fortifications on the Bulgarian Balkans, a right which they have never exercised, or dreamt of exercising; and, finally, the titular sovereignty of Bulgaria was also restored to the Sultan, though no attempt was made to interfere with the autonomy of the country. The Russians were also allowed by the treaty to exercise a provisional protectorate over Bulgaria till such time as the new Constitution, which was to be provided for the province, had been got into working order.

Whether the subject peoples could

Istanbul raged hearts

As already observed, the conquerors have neither wished nor been able to efface these distinctions, nor have the conquered had any inclination to be merged into a common life and polity. In such a state of things it is not surprising that no love has been lost Legend has it that the battle of Chalon’s was waged with such ferocity, that, after the bodies of the combatants lay cold upon the ground, their spirits continued to fight in the air.

The struggle between the conqueror and the conquered in Turkey has raged in their hearts even when, to all appearance, it seemed to have ended. In thought and sentiment the country has always been in a state of war. That a rule carried on in the spirit of conquest and of religious exclusiveness should have involved intolerable treatment of the subject peoples is only what might be expected, notwithstanding occasional good intentions.

And that peoples thus treated, and persistently reminded of their subjugation and inferior legal standing should never abandon the hope of deliverance, and should even endeavor to create opportunities to achieve emancipation is, like-wise, only what might be expected. Whether the subject peoples could have already gained their liberty, if they had been united, is a question open to debate. But what is certain is that their rivalries, their dissensions, and their natural but incompatible expectations, have retarded the realization of their ambitions.

European portion of the Empire

To a large extent, this is their misfortune; the fate imposed upon them by their circumstances. Look, for example, at the situation in the European portion of the Empire. How can anyone expect Romanians, Serbians, Bulgarians, Greeks, and Albanians to forget their historical antecedents, their race distinctions, and their associations with different parts of the country, in order to become one nationality? How can they be persuaded to combine in a common effort to become free, while the points in dispute between themselves remain unsettled? The question is rendered yet more difficult when these peoples, as is often the case, dwell side by side in the same section of the country.

Here is a tangle of claims which an impartial mind finds hard to unravel, and feels tempted to relegate to the sword that cuts the Gordian knot The fundamental difficulty that hinders the solution of what is known as “the Eastern Question” is the absence of a large homogeneous population within the bounds of the Empire, to which the Government of the country can be transferred from the hands of the present ruling race.

He was tall and handsome but did not marry because he had to support his old father and mother who were so old and so poor that they could only sit on their divans all day and pray the Almighty to call them back to him so that their boy might be left free of worries and responsibilities. But they were good parents and the boy was a good son. Therefore, the Almighty heard their prayer and freed their son of all worries, but not in the way the old people had prayed for. It so happened that the “Frank” kings of Hungary, Servia and Bulgaria declared war on our powerful Sultan and invaded his domains. To repulse the invaders our Sultan called all his brave subjects under arms.

They flocked from all over to the standard of their emperor. The young boy from the Anatolian mountains near the Caucasus heard his sovereign’s call and answered it immediately. But he was so far away that when he came to Adrianople, which was at that time the capital of the Sultan, he found that the armies had left many days before to meet the detested foes. He galloped post haste through the Balkans, days and nights without rest until he finally reached the plains of Kosovo.

A letter was fabricated

The Gospodars had also a strong faction in the town; and were altogether in a position to undertake something serious. But already was their unity destroyed and their power lessened by several losses. Milan, on whom they could reckon unconditionally, had fallen ill at Bucharest, not long after Lasar Woinowitsch had returned to him, and he died on the last day of the year 1810. It was asserted by some that he had been removed by poison.

But what to them was of greater importance, Jacob Nenadowitscli had now other views : he determined to fill his place in the Senate. Having married his son Efrem to the daughter of Mladen, and joined himself entirely to the party of Kara George ; instead of coming with a numerous troop, he appeared at Belgrade in his sledge, accompanied only by two Momkes. Thus Peter and Milenko alone remained with Weliko.

The opposite party also contrived to separate AVcliko from his faction. Kara George not only made him large presents of money, but restored to him his position as AVoiwode of Bania, which he had nearly forfeited by his departure the }Tear before: he often called him “Son;” saying, “Alcxa, his first born son, was not dearer to him,” and thus contrived to win him over entirely to his interests. But, that AVeliko might not waver between his old and new engagements, care vras taken to remove him to some distance.

A letter was fabricated, in which it was stated that the Turks had made an irruption into the country from Niscli, and had already advanced as far as l’ania; and the letter was delivered by a Tartar, streaming with perspiration. Nothing further was required to stimulate the Heyduc: to save his AVoiwodeship, he set out with all his Bekjares without a moment’s delay.

Milenko and Peter had no longer the courage to attempt any thing. Stephen Schiwkowitsch, the richest man in Belgrade, and an old enemy of Mladen’s, pressed the two chiefs once more to try their fortune: he would have had them commence immediately by an assault upon Mladen’s house. Peter and Milenko answered,   “ We are short of men.”

“ Are we not three of us,” replied Schiwkowitsch ; “ and have we not our Momkcs ? Upon the first shot the inhabitants of the town will rise: for they hate Mladen; and the country people, who are greedy after booty, will rush in to our support.” But the chiefs further objected that “ they were without ammunition even to begin with; ” whereupon Schiwkowitsch directly procured several sacksful, which he brought to the inn. But as has already been stated, both Milenko and Peter were so discouraged by their previous ill success, that, whilst Schiwkowitsch was making these proposals, they remained sitting by the fireside, without answering, and merely stirring the coals.

To be fully assured how matters stood, Kara George had now only to ascertain what lie was to expect from the Russian regiment, (the regiment Neuschlot,) and how its Colonel, Balia, was disposed towards him. If he had at any time shown himself disaffected towards the Bus  sians, it was because lie had suffered himself to be persuaded and indeed by the assertions of his adversaries themselves   that his enemies and rivals had found in them a help and support. At length, he determined to learn the real state of affairs. One day when he, Peter Dobrinjaz, and Milenko, together with the Colonel, had been dining at Mladen’s, and afterwards, to honour the Foreigner, had accompanied him towards his home, Kara George   perhaps designedly just as they arrived at the colonel’s abode, entered into a violent dispute with Milenko. Already he had ordered his Momkcs to take Milenko’s sword from him, when Balia, who lived in the same house, pleaded for him.

This was the critical moment which Kara George had expected, lie took off his cap and implored Balia, “by the bread of his Emperor,” to tell him whether he had come to support Milenko’s faction. Balia replied, that, he had come to render assistance to the nation under the command of Kara George. “ Then,” cried the latter, “let me take and kiss thy hand in lieu of that of the Emperor.” lie required no further assurance: he no longer thought of his dispute with Milenko, but was satisfied with knowing himself secure on this side also.

The next day, however, he took measures for terminating the whole affair. He sent to Milenko and Peter the appointments which removed them from their supreme command to their seats inthe Senate. Should they accept them ? It was only too evident, since Jacob had gone over to their opponent, that, in the Senate also, where they would find themselves in the minority, they would possess but little influence. “ Should they refuse?” If they did, exile awaited them. Nevertheless, they determined to refuse, hoping that their request to live as private individuals in their respective districts might be granted. As their power, however, depended less on their legal rights than on their personal influence, their request, was refused.

While gods and goddesses are sitting and chatting

Aphrodite: Goddess of beauty and love. She was born of the sea foams arose over the sea waves from the blood and flesh weep­ing from the testicles of Cronus. She has two characteristics:

• Aphrodite Urania; goddess of pure love.


• Aphrodite Pandemos; goddess of prostitution.

Aphrodite is Hephaistos’s wife and this man is a blacksmith and worker lame god. Ares is her greatest love. Aphrodite is al­ways portrayed as being nude. She did not intend to hide her beauty. Pigeon, dove and rose are her symbols.

A legend; While gods and goddesses are sitting and chatting on the Mount Ida (Kaz Mountains) and drinking their nectars on the other hand, a debate over the most beautiful goddess comes up. Is it Zeus’ wife Hera or his daughter Athena or Aphrodite? After the debate three of them take it personally. None of the gods standing there dares to speak his mind. All of a sudden they find themselves in an uneasy atmosphere. Taking the advantage of this commotion, Eris throws an apple with an inscription “To the most beautiful Goddess” on it.

Three goddesses reach for the apple. They fight like cat and dog. There is an unbearable noise now. Zeus interferes in the dis­pute involuntarily and He refrains from giving a decision due to his relation with three goddesses.

“Goddesses” says Zeus. “I love three of you equally. I assign Paris, a shepherd on the Mount Ida, as the arbitrator. Go and find him!.. Settle this matter!..”

Guided by Hermes three goddesses set forth to find Paris. Hermes relates the facts to Paris. Paris scans three goddesses from head to foot. What crossing his mind cannot be known but he is also not able to give judgment. Noticing this situation the goddesses go ahead to make promises to Paris.

Hera:

“Look, you handsome guy” says, “If you give me the apple, I will make you the strongest mortal of the entire world.

Aphrodite:

“Look, you beautiful guy” says, “If you give me the apple, I will give you the most beautiful mortal woman of the world.”

Athena:

“Look, you brave guy” says, “if you give me the apple, I will make you the strongest warrior of the world.”

Confused with such charming promises, Paris submits the apple to Aphrodite who made the promise of “the most beautiful woman”. Thus, Aphrodite becomes the goddess of beauty.

The first beauty contest was held on the Mount Katz (Ida).

Aphrodite keeps her promise and submits the Spartan King Agamemnon’ wife beautiful Helena to Paris.

This story is the mythological cause of Trojan Wars.

Poseidon: Zeus’s brother and god of seas. He is acerbic and ferocious. He bears a trident. He is also god of earthquake and other natural phenomena. He is the creator of horse.

Known as winged horse, Pegasus is the son of Poseidon.

Hestia: Zeus’s sister. One of the virgin goddesses. Goddess of family. Because she is the symbol of domestic nobility and fer­tility. A fire that never goes flat was used to light in every city. This fire used to symbolize Hestia.

A Greek man that can interfere in any immoral affair used to wish for a faithful woman who was going to wait for him at home, look after his children and cook at home. Also, they were pay attention to the condition that the girl they were going to marry had to be virgin. The goddess Hestia was held in high estimation in Greek man’s eye since she represented virginity and fertility.

We included eminent Olympian gods and their known sto­ries to our book. We are going to narrate the whole adventures of these Olympian gods in another study.

The new titled “Monotheist religions” will follow our first chapter ending with Greek religion and mythology. We have tried to shed a light on the beliefs, resource and diversity of Anatolian men beginning with Qatalhdyiik Mother Goddess belief and we have taken pain over not break the ties with the Hittite, Urartian, Persian, Roman and Greek societies. Revealing the beliefs of an­tiquity men characterized with mythology and establish relations between these beliefs and monotheist religions and also identify their universal dimension with Anatolian saints ( Mevlana, Hajji Bektash Wali etc.)

Where Teen Girls Are ‘Sold’ For Hundreds Of Dollars

POSING for selfies, slapping on lipstick and dancing around a bedroom strewn with clothing, these young teens could be from almost any city in the world.

Only the young women from Bulgaria’s Kalaidzhi — an orthodox Christian subgroup of the Roma community — will have a different fate than most.

The 18,000-strong community is widely discriminated against across Eastern Europe and renowned for fiercely guarding their cultural traditions.

Young women can be forced to leave school as soon as they have their first period, according to academic Alexey Pamporov who has studied the Roma for two decades.

The culture is also renowned for a “bridal market” held up to four times a year where young girls flock to muddy fields and parking lots around the country in red carpet gowns to meet prospective husbands.

Mr Pamporov said despite the rise of social media the “market” remains the main way young people meet before their families decide whether to go ahead with negotiating on a dowry for marriage.

When asked if the girls object to being out of school and “sold” he said. “Some girls are more liberated, let’s say, but most of them want to have a proper marriage and you need support of your family.

“They’re not happy but what can they do? When they grow up in the culture what can they do?”

The tradition is the subject of a recent Broadly documentary Young Brides for Sale by Milene Larsson and Alice Stein, who travelled to Stara Zagora in Bulgaria to watch one family up close as their teenage daughters prepared to meet potential husbands by whitening their face with pomade and trying on dresses bought online.

The Swedish filmmaker said her “jaw dropped” when she first heard about the concept but on closer inspection it’s far more complex than it seems.

“The bride market is an ancient tradition essential to the Kalaidzhi identity, which is why this custom has survived, but these days most girls have an element of choice — albeit shaped by family pressure — when it comes to whom they wed,” she said.

“That doesn’t by any means justify the disturbing idea that women are property that you can sell, bid on and buy, and how that shapes these girls’ lives from day one. They are brought up not to discover who they are and their ambitions, but instead to obey and serve their future husbands.”

While the generations-old market has been changed by technology and the economic downturn, it’s still one of the main ways families are introduced to one another in a country where they are economically and socially discriminated against.

Grooms pay an average of $290 to $350 for their young brides, Ms Larsson reports, however the price can go much higher.

The documentary provides an intimate look at one traditional coppersmithing family’s struggle to make ends meet. Parents Vera and Christo have spent the equivalent of a week’s wage on clothing their young daughters Pepa and Rossi for the all-important day.

“If the girl is not a virgin when you sell her, they will call us whores, sluts and disgraceful women,” Vera said.

Her daughter Pepa agreed: “Kalaidzhi women must be virgins when they first marry. It is very important because a lot of money is given for virginity.”

The girls, along with their cousin Mima, admit the market is “scary” as “there’s a possibility parents could decide to give their daughter’s hand to a man who has more money, rather than one who is poor even if she loved the poor man”.

“There are some cases where a boy and a girl love each other but the girl has dark eyes and if the boy’s parents are wealthy they won’t want her as their daughter-in-law. They will want a more beautiful one,” Mima said.

While neither girl actually makes a match, the parents are not unhappy. For Ms Larsson, making the film revealed a surprisingly complex set of emotions around women’s rights, family values and sex.

“I found it especially disturbing when I spent time with them alone and they talked about their fears of being married off to someone they don’t like, missing their families, and their secret dreams and aspirations that they couldn’t pursue,” she said.

However it also raised the prospect of how scary it would be to rebel against family convention.

“There is a lot of love and fun and warmth within the family, nothing is black and white. Most will chose a familiar discomfort zone rather than the lonely prospect of the absolute unknown.”

Mr Pamparov said while there were undoubtedly some cases of forced marriage for those in unfortunate positions, it was difficult to generalise about the ancient tradition in an orthodox community often separated by geography.

“The idea is to give young people the chance to meet the same age mate. The girl has a right to refuse. [As a man] I cannot ask you. I have to ask my parents to ask your parents and the elders are negotiating a price. At the same time, if I like you and you don’t care you can tell your parents,” he said.

“I’m not able to generalise because there are still some young people who are very traditional … but there are some young people who don’t care. [They will say], ‘I know she is not a virgin but I love her and I don’t care and I know that my mother won’t care because I love her.”