"I'll buy you a crimson belt and a colorful necklace ..."

Among the landmark systems that we use, the language of colors is certainly one of the oldest and most persistent. The variety of colors that we encounter in the surrounding world naturally unite in the six strips of the rainbow - red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet. In its historical development, humanity has invested each color with a specific meaning. Most often it is associated with the qualities of plants, substances and objects. The scientific explanation for the perception of colors involves a significant dose of subjectivity. Nevertheless, the words red, white, green and black seem to evoke similar associations in people of different national and cultural backgrounds. Maybe because everywhere on earth the fire burns in red and orange, the sky is blue, and the trees are wearing their green clothes - a symbol of the eternally reviving life.

Much can be said or written about the semantics of colors and their common meanings in different cultures and religions. In the ancient traditions of many nations, the red color holds a special place - it protects, enhances masculinity and brings fertility to women. The color of blood, wine and fire was used to dye the wedding veil in traditional Bulgarian weddings. In order to safely cross the border from girlhood to the sacrament of marriage, the young woman had to be surrounded by reliable protection. According to custom, the bride wore the veil until the fortieth day after the wedding, and its taking off was done with a certain ritual. Red threads were used to embroider the cloths which covered the hands of the bride as well as the socks on her feet. It was believed that no part of her body should be seen and that she should not even step on the ground barefooted. Therefore, at the first arrival in the home of the groom, the path of the newlyweds passed along a white canvas woven  specifically for the occasion. In some areas of the country instead of white cloth people placed a rug with a Martenitsa or just a red thread. The bride stepped on the thread, then her husband followed her, winding the thread into a ball. After a while, when the first child was born to the young couple, the bride knitted nappies for the baby from the same thread that was used to mark her way into her new home.

A symbol of purity, innocence and whiteness in Bulgarian folklore, the white color also means joy, grandeur and beauty. "I'm white, white, brave lad, and I am shining over the whole world", speaks the girl in one of the most famous folk songs. Of course, the lyrics of this song refer to that inner purity that has the power to transform and bring light and joy. According to folk beliefs, a white face means a pretty face. White is also the shirt of the hero, white wind is the name of the warm southerly wind. White is the bride’s gown and white is the horse on which the bride arrives at her new home. White is also associated with funeral rituals in many ancient traditions, including Bulgarian rites. At this diametrically opposed stage of being, white also means purity. It symbolizes the connection with the afterlife - according to popular belief, "the other world" saints and angels wear white robes in afterlife.

Touching up some green plants brings health and longevity, according to folk beliefs. Wreaths of flowers, geraniums, and ivy were used to decorate the heads of young girls. In the hair of the bride they also put flowers. They symbolized her last maiden floral crown. In some parts of Bulgaria, they even knitted for her a crown of basil. Embedded in the embroidery on the clothes, as well as in the woven rugs, the green color has the same meaning. Here is one of the popular explanations in love once - if a lad wanted to avow his feelings to a girl, he was supposed to hit her with a green blade. The more colorful and richer the festive floral crow, the greater the power that it will deliver to the people. The girl’s striped belts, the bride necklaces, the festive gowns were also very colorful. The main colors in the floral crowns, regardless of the occasion, were red, white and green. And for the wedding ritual also gold.

These four colors are an integral part of the nonverbal language of festivities, but not only in Bulgarian tradition. We find them in ancient folklore and religious traditions around the world that have been preserved to modern day.

English version: Rossitsa Petcova