Always bare, they dress up the whole world

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Like most bodily parts, the hands are not just limbs but an image and symbol with a host of meanings in the traditional Bulgarian culture. The hand differentiates humans from animals and allowс them to work – cultivate the land, raise livestock, make clothing and household ware and cook food. In a symbolical perspective, hands have the power to transform nature into culture, to create and keep going a man-made world. Adding to this the proverbial diligence of Bulgarians we can realize why the hands as an image and a sign claim such an important role in folklore and in present-day speech.

There is a myriad of proverbs, sayings and phrases in the Bulgarian tongue referring to the hands. Similar to the English language, the expression “hands of gold” is used for people with special skills and capabilities. Just like in English, in Bulgarian we’ve got the phrase “light-handed”, as well as “to roll up one’s sleeves”. If someone is the “right hand” of his boss, he is his closest and most trusted assistant. If we say that someone has got two left hands this is a gawky guy. Saying that someone has left over his hands in a job, we mean that he has done the job poorly and without any enthusiasm.

The image of the hand is related to generosity, the ability to be a giver. Whoever is said to be wide-fingered is an openhanded man unable to make savings. Biblical phrases in their Bulgarian versions are also common such as “the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing”.
Hands take part in a few children’s pastimes highlighting the opposition of work and idleness. There is one such play in which the hand’s fingers represent different characters. The thumb said, “Let’s eat”. „What shall we eat”, the forefinger asked. „Whatever God granted”, the third finger replied and the fourth finger suggested: „Let’s steal and eat!” „Come on, I’ll tell on you”, the pinkie exclaimed infuriating the rest. They started beating him, and so, the little finger could not grow up.

Many folklore riddles feature the hands, like for instance: „Always bare, they dress up the whole world” or „Two brothers with five sons each fill the barn. What is it?” The answer is: „The hands, the fingers and the mouth“.
Given the importance of the hands in man’s life, some of the most malicious curses are related to them: „May your hands dry up”; „May you’ve got wooden legs and straw hands”; „May your hands turn black like your black soul”. In the meantime, they are also the subject of well-wishing. The leader of the Xmas carol singer group, the so-called stanenik, blesses the adroit hands of the housewife who has prepared the special Xmas bun that is given to them:

Whoever twisted and re-twisted this bun,
may God endow her with golden-haired daughters,
with silver-handed sons!
May the hands that have sown it be respected and happy!
Silvered to the elbows, gilded to the nails!

The hand of older community and family members is kissed as an expression of respect and veneration. By kissing hand of her in-laws, the bride ritually enters her new home on her wedding day. Hand kissing is also a way for the young guys to ask forgiveness from the older ones at the festive table on Cheesefare Sunday.
In folk songs, gorgeous young women and the royalty stand out with their white hands. The hands of the holy people are extraordinary just like their personalities. In legends, St. Anthony and St. Athanasius appeared as two blacksmiths who would thrust their bare hands in live coals and forge iron with their fists. A Muslim legend recounts of Fatima, the daughter of Prophet Mohammed. One day, while she was cooking at home, her husband Ali turned up with a young girl whom he planned to take as his second wife. Ali and Fatima had been recently married, and the young bride had not expected such a step from her husband. Quite embarrassed, she involuntarily dropped the spoon and went on stirring the meal with her hands without however burning them. Witnessing the miracle Ali gave up his plans for a second wife and returned the girl to her family. To this day, Fatima’s hand is worn by both Muslims and Christians as an amulet against evil forces. In the Christians tradition, there is a herb called Virgin Mary’s Hand. Soaked in water, its twigs stretch out to resemble human fingers. This water was used to make sure that pregnant women went through an easier labor.

One of the most popular Bulgarian folk tales is about Queen Maria with the chopped off hands. Slandered to the king by ill-wishers, she was punished with cruelty: her hands were chopped off and she was banished from the kingdom with her two little kids. In her utter despair, the queen prayed to Virgin Mary who soon came to her rescue. The Holy Virgin healed her hands, and after some time the fraud was disclosed and the queen returned to the palace triumphant while her enemies were punished duly for their evil.

English version: Daniela Konstantinova

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Always bare, they dress up the whole world

Folklore images and beliefs featuring the human hands

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