Handmade with Love

Bulgarian women were allowed to embroider only until their wedding day – after that, they were having the right to do it again only when their own daughters become 12 years and they need to learn how to do it. The girls start at 12 years old embroidering what it will be later her trousseau when she gets married, and this was the highest skill of all domestic crafts. The color of the dresses as well have significance, many colors dye the Bulgarian costumes, but the main ones are red and green, yellow and white. The red color symbolizes the mother’s blood and the continuation of life. It will protect from “bad eyes” and spells. The bride wore a red veil (this was common practice until 1920′ s), and the newborn child was a red-haired diaper; red is also the first Christ’s egg painted for resurrection… Now I see the connection and the meaning of wearing a red wristband. The green color was the expression of eternal life and was connected with the Tree of life – the universal human symbol of the universe. The yellow with its shine was associated with the sun, the fire, and the light, and on the other side the dead and the prosperity of the people that they were predetermined. The white color revealed the purity, the impenetrability, the immaculate youth, and the divine light. And to this day, as a transformation of the old traditions, the newlyweds have come to pay for whitewash; white wool set the bride in the wedding ceremony.