The “Ethnography” Department
The Ethnographic Department of the Regional Historical Museum – Vratsa contributes to raising the public awareness of the traditional popular culture in two main aspects: on one hand by promoting the material patrimony and on the other hand, the spiritual and the cultural-historical heritage of the population in the region of Vratsa. The specialists from this department are mostly concerned with the activities of collecting, researching, exhibiting and promoting samples of the spheres of traditional crafts, traditional architecture and traditional practices of construction, traditional clothing and fabrics, objects of life and home interior furnishing, traditional patterns of rites and festivities, folk medicine and folk poetic works of art. What became the object of research, storage and analysis is the archive and the documentary and photographic heritage, which highlights the studied ethnographic processes and phenomena, and throws light on the thematic research tasks selected by the specialists.
The ethnographic experts provide methodological assistance for the development of diploma and course papers, preparation of quizzes and tests, participation in programs and projects related to the areas of study of the Department.
The Ethnographic Department organizes and presents reenactments of the festivities in the folk calendar, folk games and pastimes, workshops for “Sourvaknitsi” (decorated cornel twig used by children to tap people’s backs when wishing them a “Happy New Year”), “Martenitsi” (twined tasseled red and white thread, used as a symbol of spring and health), and ”Perashki” (painted Easter eggs.)