THE RHODOPES IN PLOVDIV - IMAGES, SOUNDS AND TASTES FROM THE MOUNTAIN OF ORPHEUS

WHEN FROM 04.06.2022 16:00 h. TO 10.06.2022 18:00 h.
ENTRANCE: Free
WHERE REGIONAL ETHNOGRAPHIC MUSEUM

The Rhodopes in Plovdiv - images, sounds and tastes from the mountain of Orpheus

The project builds on the events and initiatives provoked and implemented in the years of preparation and implementation of the project Plovdiv - European Capital of Culture 2019.

The project envisages the presentation of living heritage from The Rhodope mountains in three components:

- Staging of the "Rhodope wedding" on 04.06.2022 of a ritual with a live performance of music, songs and dances. In the performance participate 26 amateurs from the community centre in Smilyan - singers, dancers and bagpipers. The audience has the opportunity to see typical festive costumes from the area of ​​the village of Smilyan - white bridal costumes, as well as festive bridesmaid and festive maiden costumes. Besides the wide scope of audiences, the event aims to be of interest and importance for the people with specialized ethnographic interest - the authentic song folklore of the Rhodopes, the traditional clothing and customs of the middle Rhodopes. The event includes present songs from the original Rhodope folklore, recreating the custom from the announcement of the engagement by the matchmakers to the finale of the wedding, which are performed accompanied by a bagpipe performance. The dance and stage choreography are by Mrs. Vaska Hristova, teacher, and accompanist in folk dances at  Shiroka Laka.

- Photo exhibition "Villages: - memory and living heritage", including 30 photo boards, annotated in Bulgarian and English, is planned for 04-10.06.2022. The exhibition is a result of the implementation of the project from the year of the title "Drive, shoot, show: villages and living heritage in the lens". Showing it in Plovdiv provides an opportunity for more residents and guests of the city to learn more about the customs and living traditions in the Middle Rhodopes. Its host and host of the main public event are REM-Plovdiv.

- Presentation of traditional products from the Rhodopes and dishes from the traditional Rhodope cuisine is taking place on the opening day - 04.06.2022 in the yard of the Regional Ethnographic Museum - Plovdiv. The not so familiar to the general public - smidar, fur cheese, drinks made from herbs - will be shown and offered for tasting. Four producers of typical Rhodope foods will be invited.

Project of the Community Center /Chitalishte/ "Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov 1927"- Smilyan, part of the program LEGACY of Plovdiv - European Capital of Culture