Wednesday, March 7, 2012

The "Gypsy Bride Market"

Cold beer. Grilled meats. Fried fish. Cotton candy. Candied apples. A variety of other sweets. Girls all dolled up. Boys eyeing up the girls, wooing them, and vying for their attention. Adults mixing, mingling, chatting, and matchmaking.

The so-called "Gypsy Bride Market" seemed to be several things rolled into one: a fair of sorts, a reunion of sorts, a matchmaker's convention of sorts, a prom (or debutant ball) of sorts. Whatever it was, it was nothing like the cattle auction it's been reported to be by the media. I expected to be uncomfortable, and I was. Not because this was some archaic and patently offensive sale of young women, but because we had no business being there. We showed up uninvited and brought nothing to the party other than our presumed moral superiority. Despite this, and even though we were there at least in part to judge, we weren't shunned or otherwise made to feel unwelcome. On the contrary, everyone was accepting if not overly accommodating and friendly. What made me uncomfortable was the voice in my own head that kept asking, "Who the hell are you to judge anyway?"

For more on the market, read my friend’s post.


Here are some shots from the event.


These two girls were at the center of some controversy. A freelance reporter from Spain wanted to interview them (and any other girls hoping to be "bought" at the market). The reporter couldn't understand or speak Bulgarian, so without help from a translator she was useless. Anyway, an elderly gentleman claiming to speak on behalf of all Калайджии said no one could be interviewed or photographed until an official translator showed up. The girls' grandmother took exception to this and a small pissing contest ensued. In any event, maybe the girls found love because a few hours later they both were with boys.

This girl was one of the "lucky" ones. She and her new husband both seemed pretty happy.
Gotta love the media getting in someone's face to "get the story."

Alas, I didn't find a bride worth purchasing. Instead, I bought a horsewhip at this stand. A 5 leva souvenir from my first and, in all likelihood, last visit to a bride market.

8 comments:

  1. It seems really interesting, I should have come, I guess

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  2. There is always next year. It's a short drive from Plovdiv, and things don't really start until early afternoon.

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  3. Hopefully these ladies weren't being "bought" to be sold into prostitution/the human trafficking industry.

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    1. It did not appear to be that kind of market at all.

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  4. This is a gypsy festival and has nothing to do with the Bulgarians and Bulgarian traditions.

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    1. The event occurs in Bulgaria and most, if not all, of the attendees are Bulgarian citizens, but thanks for your insightful comment.

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    2. And still they do not integrate, are obviously very different to the native Bulgarians. That is at least my impression as a German who has been many times in Bulgaria.
      PS to Brian: You wrote Zagorka tastes like piss, you must have confused it with your neighbours jerry, Zagorka actually rocks! :)

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  5. The real Bulgarians do not do that! The are good educated and they do not sell any of their relatives. People, you have shot are not Bulgarians. Don't be lied that the real Bulgarians do that because they don't.

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