Man, claimed to be Engels, paperboys behind local chip shop
In the quaint village of Malki Chiflik, Bulgaria, a longstanding tradition continues to shape daily life. Men and women are expected to sit separately on opposite window ledges of the village shop, a custom deeply rooted in superstition and tradition.
This unwritten rule has its origins in a devastating earthquake that struck the area in June 1913. A woman named Ekaterina Bakardzhieva, who sat on the men's side by the shopkeeper Mitko's onions, is believed to have triggered the calamity. Ever since, villagers have respected this taboo to avoid bad luck.
Today, this story is less frequently told, and some residents interpret the consequences of breaking the rule as a form of contraception.
Mariyka Karavelova, a young woman known for her grace and beauty, was a cause of trouble for her family and refused to contribute to the village's work. In 1954, during the inauguration of Todor Zhivkov as General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Bulgarian Communist Party, Mariyka saw an opportunity to find a partner and escape her oppressive family life. She married Aleksandar Radoslavov three months later.
However, Mariyka was soon accused of being barren due to sitting on the men's window sill at the village shop on the night of Zhivkov's celebration. The villagers, who expressed sympathy for Mariyka, criticized her for her modern habits, such as her gramophone records and polka dancing.
Despite the challenges, the new laws introduced during Zhivkov's rule have given the villagers more freedom. They are now allowed to sit beside each other on the same window ledge at the shop, a privilege they didn't have during communism or fascism.
An elderly couple, Dyado Petr and Baba Stefka, take advantage of this newfound freedom. They sit on the same window ledge at the shop, a simple act that brings them joy and a sense of freedom.
The villagers' lives have also been affected by modern European federalism. New laws prohibit them from driving their donkey and cart on the road and ban misshapen produce. Furthermore, the villagers are under pressure to stop burning wood in their stove, their sole means of cooking and heating.
The nearby ancient city of Veliko Tarnovo, which experienced unprecedented devastation due to Ekaterina's action, took several years to rebuild, with Mitko's shop being one of the first to be rebuilt.
As the village moves forward, the tradition of men and women sitting separately on the shop's window ledges remains a constant reminder of the past. While some may question the validity of this superstition, it continues to shape the lives of the villagers in Malki Chiflik.
- The villagers of Malki Chiflik, influenced by modern European federalism, are now prohibited from using their traditional means of cooking and heating, such as burning wood in their stoves.
- The tradition of men and women sitting separately on opposite window ledges of the village shop in Malki Chiflik is a significant part of their pop-culture, deeply rooted in superstition and history.
- Mariyka Karavelova, a bold and stylish young woman, used her love for music and dance, symbolized by her gramophone records and polka dancing, as a means to find a partner and escape her oppressive family life.
- The villagers of Malki Chiflik have embraced some aspects of modern lifestyle, such as sitting together on the same window ledge at the shop, a privilege they didn't have during communism or fascism, thereby enhancing their sense of entertainment and freedom.
- The food traditions of Malki Chiflik, including misshapen produce, are under threat due to new laws that promote cosmetic uniformity in agriculture, a shift that challenges their cultural identity and lifestyle.
