This is the first post of our new format!
pole bachit, a lis chuye
This is a Ukranian proverb meaning: “the field sees, the forest hears”.
It is an homage to our ancestor’s deep connection to the land. When we are walking in nature, we are never alone. With each step Matka Ziemia says I see you, I hear you. You are heard. You are seen.
I’m not sure in what context this proverb would be used. It can only be guessed at, and formed into our own use. Perhaps it was a saying just to remind us that there is a connection that runs deeper than our material things and thoughts.
Interestingly, the proverb is similar to the title of an artwork called “The forest that hears and the field that sees”. It was created not by a Ukranian, but by a Dutch artist named Hieronymus Bosch circa 1500. He was an artist that influenced the generations of Surrealists to come. We’ll never know if there is a connection between the proverb and this drawing, but I think it illustrates the sentiment well.
Bulgarian Rose Festival
I was enamored when I saw photos from the Bulgarian Rose Festival and wanted to know more. Apparently, Bulgaria produces 75% of the world’s rose oil! Rose in general is a very special plant to our Slavic ancestors, and so it would make sense that such an industry would thrive here.
This particular oil-producing rose is Rosa damascena, or the Damask rose. You might’ve heard of it actually. It was first brought to Bulgaria by merchants, probably from the Middle East. But over the centuries, this rose evolved into its own purely Bulgarian species. It is interesting to think of how much cultures overlap and meld over time.
Back in the day, it is said that merchants would trade one kilo of rose oil for one kilo of gold! It was its own kind of currency in a way. This is because it takes an exponential amount of rose petals to make just a few drops of rose oil.
Traditional processes use double distillation to extract its aromatic qualities. The rose oil is separated through this process from the rose water byproduct (which is still valuable). These early distilleries were called gyulpanas. They were situated along rivers where water for distillation was easily accessible. Within the gyulpanas, there were three to five cauldrons for cooking down the plant material.
The Bulgarians are truly masters at their craft. They began to produce nearly twice as much rose oil as Turkey, another great rose oil producer. Even through the communist years when the industry took a hit, they persisted.
To celebrate such a beautiful plant and process, the Day of the Rose or Rose Festival was born and still continues to this day. There are many parts to the festivities including Rozober, a rose-picking ritual where folklore groups called mummers (kukeri) donned scary masks to dance and celebrate. Vendors, contests and concerts all take place during the Rose Festival. Rose brandy, rose liqueur, rose jam and any number of other rose inspired foods also make an appearance here.
The Slavic Myths
A new book has come onto my radar! This one was just published in October and it looks fantastic. Check it out here.
In the first collection of Slavic myths for an international readership, Noah Charney and Svetlana Slapšak expertly weave together the ancient stories with nuanced analysis to illuminate their place at the heart of Slavic tradition. While Slavic cultures are far-ranging, comprised of East Slavs (Russia, Ukraine, Belarus), West Slavs (the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland), and South Slavs (the countries of former Yugoslavia plus Bulgaria), they are connected by tales of adventure and magic with roots in a common lore. In the world of Slavic mythology we find petulant deities, demons and fairies, witches, and a supreme god who can hurl thunderbolts. Gods gather under the World Tree, reminiscent of Norse mythology’s Yggdrasill. The vampire—usually the only Serbo-Croatian word in any foreign-language dictionary—and the werewolf both emerge from Slavic belief.
Zbigniew Rychlicki (1922-1989)
In honor of the upcoming solstice and Christmas, I wanted to highlight this Polish artist who created scenes of traditional holiday rituals. It was tradition in many Slavic countries to dress up as beasts or spirits around the solstice and go singing door to door. Generous hosts would feed these creepy carolers, ensuring their good fortune in the year to come. These folks were actually the same as the mummers or kukeri who take part in the Bulgarian Rose Festival mentioned above.