The grannies from Lyulyakovo
In the eastern slopes of the Balkan Mountain, 60 km northwest of Burgas, on the river banks of Kamchia there is a village blooming called Lyulyakovo (Keremetlik). The name of this old Bulgarian village is mentioned in Turkish records already in 1488. After the Bulgarian liberation the village became even bigger after the settlment of Thracian refugees from Asia Minor villages such as Chatal Tepe and Kodzhabunar who live together with other Bulgarian immigrants from Malak Dervent, Sofliysko (1913 - 1914).
The large variety of different cultures can be seen not only in the traditional costumes of the people living in Lyulyakovo but also in their customs, which they strictly follow to this day. The tradition continues thanks to the support of the local community center "Prosveta", founded in 1929 and awarded the "Cyril and Methodius" medal - first degree in 1979 for its active cultural and educational activities. In 2001 the community center participated in a project for collecting, preserving and promoting folk traditions back in the households and the festive calendar of Lyulyakovo "12 steps in the past" financed by the National Fund "Culture". Three generations - from 4 to 84 years old, were involved in the formation of the folklore ensemble founded in 1956. They took part on festivals abroad, national councils and from Koprivshtitsa always returned with a gold medal.
In 1981 the community center had a great number of members and the costumes were not enough, so they bought from the local population 23 authentic costumes and the rest made their own. They bought 40 kg cotton from a factory in Burgas and at five meetings, which includes all women of the village, the cotton was spun. Zlatka Angelova woven the canvas, Maria Teneva sewed sagya (overcoat). Every woman embroidered her own costume.
The motor behind all this is Mrs.Veneta Staneva - Secretary of the library. Born and raised in Lyulyakovo, she listened from small the songs of her mother. These songs were brought here from Asia Minor, not sung anywhere else. To this day she collects and records these songs from older women in the village.
The grannies from Lyulyakovskite are truly unique with their enthusiasm to preserve their distinctive folklore, with their unselfish sympathy and talent, they do not go unnoticed. They recreate rituals, traditional household activities, participate in folk music competitions and festivals such as the International Folklore Festival of Burgas. More than 10 years the grannies from Lyulyakovo are true friends of our museum and repeatedly presented their customs "Peperuda", "Lazarus" and Sirni Zagovezni, prepared delicious medenik, kishkek (wheat cocked according to a special recipe), and showed us how to entangle martenitsas.
The oldest of the group is Mrs.Zlatka Stavrieva, who is now 88 years. Her cousin Mrs.Maria Teneva is 86. Mrs.Maria Shishmanova skilful weaves on the loom, makes small bags and as a real artist does pokerwork and painting. Master of the famous kishkek is Mrs.Velichka Encheva. Among them are also Stoika Koleva, Nikolinka Stefanova, Dobra Petrova.
Rosica Топалова and Krasimira Dubarova, curators in department "Ethnography"
