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Sat, May 26 2012
High prices at Roma bride bazaar in Bulgaria
A Bulgarian Roma woman from the close-knit Kalaidjii clan poses with a wedding dress during a bride fair in the village of Mogila, about 240km east of Sofia, March 12 2011. The bride fair, a kind of annual debutante ball, offers the hope of a stable future for young Roma women, a group deemed vulnerable to racism and poverty across Europe.
Photo: Reuters
A Bulgarian Roma woman from the close-knit Kalaidjii clan applies her make-up during a bride fair in the village of Mogila.
Photo: Reuters
In spite of declining incomes and unemployment, prices for brides at the traditional Roma bride bazaar in the village of Mogila have soared, a report by Bulgarian National Television said.
The market, which sees men bidding for brides every year on Todorovden – the day of St Todor, this year celebrated on March 12, saw prices from 2000 to 50 000 leva for brides "depending on their beauty," the report said.
The price is set by the girl’s parents, according to the Bulgarian National Television report, and girls were thoroughly prepared, made up and dressed in special outfits.
"The more light-skinned, the higher the price," Bulgarian National Television said.
The market, which sees men bidding for brides every year on Todorovden – the day of St Todor, this year celebrated on March 12, saw prices from 2000 to 50 000 leva for brides "depending on their beauty," the report said.
The price is set by the girl’s parents, according to the Bulgarian National Television report, and girls were thoroughly prepared, made up and dressed in special outfits.
"The more light-skinned, the higher the price," Bulgarian National Television said.
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Bulgaria alreadyb has a bad reputation about the number of its women that constitute the percentage pg prostitutes all over Europe. But this acceptable selling of human beings for their re-productive capacity takes the cake!
@Vulcho
Aferim bate, mashallah!!!
Nerde Jambol, nerde Asian social custom???
Families asking a bride price are part of a social custom across many Asian cultures. It's especially common in Thailand and Laos. So culturally, nothing peculiar to Roma.
How do Roma girls see this? if they go against their parents' and grandparents' wishes, what is the concrete consequence? Do girls want to see this practice ended? How common is this in the Roma community as a whole? --Probably quite marginal. How do young Rom men actually see this? It really is oppressive for them.
Those are the kinds of questions that have to be [...]
Read the full comment asked.
He he he... Now it is a tradition!!!
The most expensive ones are of age between 10 and 12 and all of them with a cut thumbs. They are not really braids, but pickpocket experts and it is expected to recover the price paid for them within the first 3 months and then bring profit. Disgusting!!! And the one that finds this amazing check you wallet often, even if you are not in Bulgaria.
I think this is kinda awesome
This has to stop. It is disgusting to sell women, especially considering what usually happens to them afterwards. Where is the EU in all this?
What year is it? Never mind, it's BG!
Selling women as "Bride". Was this the same in the time of slavery?
And this is allowed in a EU country Bulgaria?
Why not sell drugs and name it Medical trade!
Allow prostitution and name it Social workers!
Please Bulagaria when you are gonna wake up, it's 2011 ALREADY
Welcome to the third world