The village of Tserova Koria

Tserova koriya Celebrates 8th Year of the Courful Chicken Festival

Paul Williams — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 21:02:13 +0000

https://youtu.be/akOBREk42Nc

Highlights of Colourful Chicken Festival 2024

Thirty seven folk groups participated in the Petrovden Folk festival which celebrated its 8th succesful year in Tserova Koria. Excellent performances by all and a Big bravo to the youth groups who entertained us with well rehearsed song and dance routines.

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140 Years ‘ Development’ Anniversary 1883 Tserova Koria

Paul Williams — Sat, 02 Mar 2024 10:25:30 +0000

140 year anniversary celebration since the founding of the Community Centre in 1883

Photo highlights of the Anniversary

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Tserova Koria welcomes Japanese visitors to ‘Village Style Bulgarian Yoghurt exhibition’

Paul Williams — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 15:51:04 +0000

Veliko Tarnovo is about the 15th largest city in Bulgaria with a population of only 72,000 people.

Tourism however brings over 200,000 visitors to the old capital and continues to grow year on year.

Many of those tourists now desire to see something unique and memorable of the countries they visit and to experience local culture and traditions.

Veliko Tarnovo has long been associated with Japanese tourism and so the ‘Culture, Tourism and International activities Directorate of the municipality of Veliko Tarnovo initiated an idea to include a nearby village to be included in the visitors programme.

Tserova Koria was chosen to host a tour to include an exhibition of the making of Bulgarian yoghurt ‘village style’

Bulgarian yoghurt is extremely popular in Asia, particularly Japan, because interestingly, the unique blend of bacteria native to Bulgaria ((lactobacillus bulgaricus) cannot be reproduced in other countries, these Asian companies must continuously import new ‘starter cultures’ to create their version of Bulgarian yoghurt.

Programme

Stepping off the bus into the wonderful sunny village square of Terova Koria

The Japanese tourists along with their guide Mr Yuji Nakajima were welcomed by mayor, Mr Christo Kunchev and a colourful welcoming party of village ladies dressed in traditional Bulgarian costume

After many greetings and shaking of hands with the smiling and happy guests the party moved into the pensioners club where a table was laden with homemade bread, locally produced honey, herbs and the unique Bulgarian yoghurt

During the ‘food taster’ a wonderful explanation and demonstration of ‘how to make Bulgarian Yoghurt village style’ was given by Christina Bratoeva.

The smiling guests, true to their inquisitive culture, showed much interest in the live show. They also listened intently to the story and history of Yoghurt production

Yoghurt has a long history in this country. Many Bulgarians claim it was accidentally discovered here around 4,000 years ago when nomadic tribes roamed the land. The nomads carried their milk in animal skins, creating a ripe environment for bacteria to grow and cause fermentation, producing yoghurt

After the fascinating yoghurt demonstration, the guests were assisted and dressed in authentic traditional Bulgarian costume. They were then led into the large village theatre where the ladies ‘Svetnitsa’ village choir entertained a delighted audience with melodic Bulgarian folk songs.sang ‘acappella’ style.

After the wonderful recital, a tour of the church of St John and its small museum was conducted. The happy curious guests, supervised by the mayor, also had an opportunity to toll the church bells too!

Gifts of Friendship

Before leaving, each of the guests were presented a small gift of homemade yoghurt as a reminder of their short time with the village.

I’m sure our guests enjoyed the tour very much judging by the smiling, happy faces.

That is what local tourism is much better at, a friendly and more personal connection and experience for the traveller.

In the village square of Tserova koria lit by the warm September sun, people of different cultures met, smiled, laughed, and shared photos.

On returning home, those visitors will relate their experience of Bulgaria to friends and family and there is no doubt that the village of Tserova Koria will be mentioned with affection for its warm hospitality in those faraway prefectures of Japan.

Author & Photography: Paul Williams

Translator: Francesca James

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Lazarovden – 16.04.2022

adminIQlR — Wed, 04 May 2022 05:30:22 +0000

Lazarovden is the feast day of St Lazarus, who was raised from the dead by Jesus Christ.

It is celebrated on the Saturday before Palm Sunday according to the Orthodox church calendar and signifies that through Jesus there can be new life after death. It marks the start of Easter celebrations, the most important event of the Christian year.

In Bulgaria, the traditional custom of Lazarus is performed by young girls of the village. In days gone by, it was usually those that were of age and eligible to marry. Indeed it was said that a girl could not marry if she had not taken part in the ritual.

The girls dress in traditional local costumes and tour many houses of their own village singing and dancing Lazarus ritual songs to bless the homeowners with health, happiness, and prosperity.

It is custom for the owners of the houses visited to bestow small gifts, eggs, fruit, or money to the young performers.

TSEROVA KORIA LAZAROVDEN 2022

Due to restrictions of the global virus, the Lazarovden ritual has not been performed for a couple of years in Tesrova Koria.

However, the 2022 Lazarovden Spring ritual has brought a cheerful mood to the eagerly awaited participants and residents of Tesrova Koria as once again the song of the Lazarki could be heard around the village streets again.

It is wonderful to see age-old traditions being upheld in Bulgaria and in particular Tserova Koria.

Traditions which include all religious feasts, build connections in the community, they express and maintain identity.

They motivate and emotionally move us and more importantly give opportunities for children to learn about their own culture in a safer environment.

Thank you to Mrs. Danka Slavcheva for organizing the young Lazarki of our village that brought us color and warmth and much happiness on a beautiful Spring morning.

Indeed, thanks to all participants who keep traditions alive and well in Tserova Koria.

Author: Paul Williams

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Ritual cutting of the vine in Tserova koria – February 13, 2022

adminIQlR — Sun, 13 Feb 2022 20:45:00 +0000

Trifon Zarezan is a Bulgarian national custom observed on the 14th of February in honor of Saint Tryphon. It is celebrated as a holiday by vine-growers, falconers, gardeners, and innkeepers.

The day historically marks the beginning of grape pruning.

Each year the village of Tserova Koria upholds the wonderful tradition of Trifon Zarezan.

In recent years the event has become so popular that a coach excursion with “EUROTOURS-VT” brings many visitors from the Veliko Tarnovo area.

The Trifon vine cutting ritual is followed by much dancing by local folklore dance groups and visitors all accompanied by excellent musicians.

Of course, no Bulgarian event would be without food and drink and the hosts ensured that there is enough for everyone.

Due to Covid restrictions during 2021 the event had to be canceled at the last minute and the vineyard, which had been the normal venue for the Trifon ritual, was closed down and the vines removed.

Fortunately, the Mayor of Tserova Koria Mr. Christo Kunchev, and his team brought the ‘mountain to Mohammed’ by planting several vines in the village square to enable the tradition to continue and be enjoyed once again.

Тhis year the winners for the best wine are:

Georgi Arabadjiev
Ivan Arabadjiev
Nedka Kucarowa and Ivanka Kerkenezova

Many thanks to all those that organize, fund, support, and assist in keeping Bulgarian traditions alive and well.

Special thanks to:

Video recording: Paul Williams and Ivomir Bonev
Video editing: Paul Williams
Translation: Francesca James
Video Dialogue Assistant: Petya Nedeva

Author: Paul Williams

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Harvest Time 2020

adminIQlR — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 21:35:45 +0000

Harvest Time 2020

Every year a most important event takes place in the fields around our village of Tserova koria. The first harvesting of the wheat.

Wheat

Wheat is grown on more land area than any other crop and continues to be the most important food grain source for humans around the world. The cultivation of wheat reaches far back into history. Wheat was one of the first domesticated food crops and for 8 000 years wheat has been the basic staple food of the inhabitants of Europe, West Asia and North Africa.

Many of us in these modern times take it for granted that we can have bread every day and is readily available in shops.
But to get that principal commodity to your table a great deal of preparation, hard work and strife has gone into ensuring that your daily intake of, vitamins and nutritious energy fiber reaches your food table.

Farming

Mr. Georgi Arabadjiev, a resident of Tserova Koria, is one of the largest land tenants in the area. With over 13,000 acres of land, producing about 4000 tonnes of grain, he and his dedicated team of employees work through the year to produce crops such as wheat, corn, barley, and sunflowers. Mr. Arabadjiev studied at the University of Stara Zagora and holds a Master’s degree in “Combined feed and nutrition” Georgi is also head of the poultry and agricultural company, ‘Prolet 57’ which he established back in 2000. It is part of the Poultry Product Manufacturing Industry group in Bulgaria.

Let there be fertility and prosperity, let the year be bountiful and let the barns overflow.

The land around Tserova koria is situated on the early slopes of the mid-Bakan mountain range and because of this the consistency of the soil is not easy to farm. The work can be long and hard going and like all farmers, you are dependent on the weather.

Timing of the harvest is essential in ensuring you get the best yields from your land.

Harvest too early or late and you may not get the best quality which reflects on the price, which is another ‘bone of contention’ for farmers with those buyers who can offer ridiculously low prices.and so wet weather at harvest time can have a massive effect on income.

From time immemorial it has been an established custom for those that ‘work the land’ to ask for divine intervention so that the weather will be kind and the crops will be bountiful.

It is with great respect that Mr. Georgi Arabadjiev along with the mayor and other residents of Tserova koria continue these traditions which are of significant as well as cultural importance to the village.

Tserova koria Harvest Traditions

Once a year an area is designated within the village for the harvest tradition to be held.
A tent is erected and a table adorned with beautiful flowers donated by wonderful residents are placed among the food and drink which has been kindly donated by Georgi and his wife Aneta.

Georgi Arabadjiev with a sharpened sickle in hand walks into the field and cuts the first golden crop of wheat by hand.

He ties the sheaf into a bundle which is then symbolically placed in the central area where more ritual is to take place.

Mr. Christo Kunchev our mayor gave a welcoming speech and thanked Mr. Georgi Arabadjiev on behalf of Tserova koria residents and then introduced priest Father Asen, who conducted the ceremony of prayers and blessings to all who had come to celebrate, and in particular to those employees who work the farm machinery.

After the prayer service and everyone has been showered with holy water blessed by father Asen, including the farm machinery, an articulate reading by Petya Nedeva one of the village recital group ladies was followed by harmonious singing by ladies of the village choir accompanied by local musicians.

Before the harvest food and drink table was opened to everyone, traditional Bulgarian dancing followed the singing and for the first time the new children’s dance group ‘Easter’ choreographed by Marieta Radeva made their debut with several splendid and entertaining performances.
The Radomira dance group led by choreographer Christina Lazarova also performed a well-rehearsed combination of steps followed by a village horo where everyone was free to join in the fun.

At the end of the mornings festivity Georgi Arabadjiev and Aneta were presented certificates by the Mayor and thanked for their continuous support and generous donations to the village groups and various village projects including a 3000 leva donation to the ‘Chitalsite’ building renovation and day excursions for other village groups plus 300 leva for the pensioners club fund.

Author and pictures: Paul Williams

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Celebration of the national holiday – March 3, 2020

adminIQlR — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 14:54:30 +0000

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Trifon Zarezan – February 16, 2020

adminIQlR — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 14:52:42 +0000

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Gathering of the village – January 25, 2020

adminIQlR — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 14:51:48 +0000

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Children’s New Year’s holiday – December 27, 2019

adminIQlR — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 14:48:26 +0000

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