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Thu, Feb 09 2012
TV report shows Bulgarian Roma bride bazaar
A scene from a Roma household in Sofia's Lyulin residential area.
Photo: Nadezhda Chipeva
Thousands of Roma families from across Bulgaria gathered for the traditional bride market, with bids of up to 50 000 leva (about 25 000 euro) from would-be grooms, Bulgarian National Television reported.
Negotiations were held at a church near Bachkovo Monastery, in central Bulgaria about 10km from Assenovgrad – the latter town, coincidentally, formerly held sway as the centre of wedding dress-making in Bulgaria.
High prices were demanded, and offered, in spite of the financial crisis that has severely hit Bulgaria.
One man, identified only as Sergei in the report, said that he had offered 40 000 leva for the bride he wanted. He said that prices depended on the beauty of the bride, whether she was hard-working and on her skills.
The bride-to-be said that she was happy with the transaction "because I love him".
The bride’s grandfather, Mitko, said that prices of brides only went up over the years, never down.
However, some young men went away empty-handed this year, because they could not afford the prices demanded during haggling. They would have to wait until this time next year, for love and better and financial times, the report said.
Kolyo, a bachelor from Chirpan, said that prices averaged 20 000 to 25 000 leva, often higher, in spite of the economic crisis.
Prices were about 10 to 15 per cent higher than in 2009.
"Brides are getting more expensive?" the television reporter asked him.
"Yes, like gas prices," Kolyo said.
Negotiations were held at a church near Bachkovo Monastery, in central Bulgaria about 10km from Assenovgrad – the latter town, coincidentally, formerly held sway as the centre of wedding dress-making in Bulgaria.
High prices were demanded, and offered, in spite of the financial crisis that has severely hit Bulgaria.
One man, identified only as Sergei in the report, said that he had offered 40 000 leva for the bride he wanted. He said that prices depended on the beauty of the bride, whether she was hard-working and on her skills.
The bride-to-be said that she was happy with the transaction "because I love him".
The bride’s grandfather, Mitko, said that prices of brides only went up over the years, never down.
However, some young men went away empty-handed this year, because they could not afford the prices demanded during haggling. They would have to wait until this time next year, for love and better and financial times, the report said.
Kolyo, a bachelor from Chirpan, said that prices averaged 20 000 to 25 000 leva, often higher, in spite of the economic crisis.
Prices were about 10 to 15 per cent higher than in 2009.
"Brides are getting more expensive?" the television reporter asked him.
"Yes, like gas prices," Kolyo said.
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This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained foul, abusive or discriminating language
is this roma cultural trait not violate right of roma women? where are the EU feminist on this issue?
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained foul, abusive or discriminating language
hey mollie what about your treatment of your Arab minority? is that not racist???
This may come as news to you, but in the EU is up to the State to protect the rights of women and children, not up to them to improve their lot... those biblical days are over!
Years a go, as a young man I traveled in the train in BG with a Gipsy who was just freed from prison.
He felt so wronged by the BG society for the injustice! His only crime was having sex with his own 13 yo daughter !
Tell me, he said, how is it wrong [...]
Read the full comment to eat the first fruit from the tree you yourself planted!
That was a case of his "cultural" heritage being disregarded by our state, and thankfully so!
There are too many Romanis and the State is too weak, so there is no way we could protect all of their women and children, but nice to know our rabbi here would like to filter our media as we in BG couldn't handle certain realities and should be educated.. are those the roots of antisemetism?
Tell me because it's been foreign to us in BG..,
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained off-topic content
the custom of trading in human flesh is legally repugnant under both civil and common law. it amounts to a grave infringement on the rights to dignity, but especially to the right to equality (if men and women are equal under the law, then why is there no "groom price"). the argument that this is a cultural practice that should be protected under the bundle of cultural rights is extremely selective, because it fails to take into account that no right is absolute (not even the right to life, because we may kill in private defence) and that rights can [...]
Read the full comment generally (and justifiably) limited under a law of general application (the constitution).
the attempt to use "culture" to hide all manner of sin, jewish, indian or african, will clash significantly with established legal principles. the gypsy tradition to indulge in slave trade cannot be given the veil of respectability and decency, because it is legally unsustainable.
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained foul, abusive or discriminating language
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained off-topic content
"One man, identified only as Sergei in the report, said that he had offered 40 000 leva for the bride he wanted. He said that prices depended on the beauty of the bride, whether she was hard-working and on her skills."
What animal... How is it that "disenfranchised" minority can get a hold of that kind of money, (you have to assume that that's not his last penny) and how is this not human trafficking or slavery?
There is no way Romas will ever be able to integrate, even if BG gives them everything [...]
Read the full comment we earn...
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained foul, abusive or discriminating language
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained foul, abusive or discriminating language
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained foul, abusive or discriminating language
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained foul, abusive or discriminating language