BALKAN BRIDES (Νύφες των Βαλκανίων)

[@mavrothalassa]

"Ντύσου,στολίσου λυγερή ντύσου,στολίσου κόρη Όλα τ'αηδόνια ζήλεψαν και πέταξαν μπροστά σου.. κι όλα λαλούσαν κι έλεγαν χαρά στην ομορφιά σου.." Ο πλούτος της Λαογραφίας,του πολιτισμού των λαών σε συνδυασμό με μια υπέροχη μουσική,μαγεία στο μικρό μας παράθυρο! ..μας χάρισες μια εξαιρετική δημιουργία Άννα!!******

[@harisego]

Υπέροχη δημιουργία... πολύ ξεχωριστή δουλειά, μπράβο Άννα.

[@lilalilak]

εξαιρετική δουλειά, λεπτά ταιριασμένες οι εικόνες με την υπέροχη μουσική.

[@despoina1951]

πολύ όμορφη δημιουργία Αννα, κάτι ξεχωριστό!!

[@ArtsKris]

Video of a big sensibility. I like when the traditional culture takes an artistic face. Thank you Anna for this fascinating video. My friendship.

[@Yam0re]

a wonderful result!

[@EVE80-w2x]

Beautiful I love it!!

[@muhammad-syaiful]

nice...

[@goldis21]

first time this ritual I know about, very interesting !

[@makedon9991]

Ancient Macedonian Tradition :)

[@lilish85]

Scary Brides... Remind me ghosts

[@AntoinetteJanssen]

Traditional weddings look beautiful, but, if you have once married in a traditional way and been overwhelmed and overruled by all the hocus pocus around, taking away all the subtle private moments between the two beloved ones, then one would wish to have married in silence, with only nature and purity around to witness the wedding, the spiritual wedding.

[@Askomav1]

It was a surprise to me to find out all these, Antoinette… I guess it’s not common even today and it seems to take place only in villages inhabited by Pomaks, Slavs who converted to Islam under Ottomans. Despite decades of Communist persecution the wedding ritual was resurrected with vigour and after all, it’s Balkan in here…!!! Quite different compared to Norway, I guess… I still try to find out what the bride’s chalky white “mask” means together with the colorful sequins … No success so far… :)

[@AntoinetteJanssen]

Askomav1 O yes, I agree with you that ceremonies and traditions have a strong effect, energy, anyhow, they are a part of the people and therefore a part of their identity. That has a unique beauty that I love. Norway has also its traditions and the bunad for instance is absolutely fabulous. What I sense though, worldwide, in traditions, is that they can kill the inner development, the psychological development, the evolution as the human being, because traditions are conservative. Otherwise they disappear. The fear for change creates a strong "government" in the minds and the social control of people. That change however is a natural facet of life. Without change we get depressed because we suppress our deepest self. That does not mean that Beauty has to disappear. When two people marry each other in freedom, with their own decision, their own free will, and create the traditional ceremony around it then it can be the most intense experience. But then all, also the parents, the guests, all, have to be the free one, who acts from out of the inner freedom and we are far from that. I have been married with the traditional weddingdress in the Netherlands, not such as we see here, but with all the ceremonies around it. What should be the most beautiful day was the beginning of a disaster. I did not have any voice in it. That is why I reacted. Now I am 65. If I was young now I would not marry anymore, not with even the most beautiful prince on a white horse. Love is an inner connection and not any official agreement like a marriage can make it eternal. Only love can. Love, true love is eternal. The spiritual wedding goes much deeper than any traditional wedding. But it is nice that you show here something that is mostly hidden for the rest of the world. I thank you for that. Greetings from Norway :) Antoinette