Бележки към ономатологията и етимологиятана българските и гръцките названия на обреда за дъжд додола/перперуна
Notes on the Onomatology and the Etymology of Bulgarian and Greek Names for the Dodola / Perperuna Rite

Summary/Abstract: The article deals with Bulgarian and Greek varieties of the name for the rite, common throughout the Balkans, the aim of which is to invoke rain. The data have been obtained both from published and archival sources. The two basic roots of this denomination are dodola and perperuna. The prevailing opinion with regard to the first one is that it derives from an old song refrain with unclear semantics. The question is more complicated as far as the second root is concerned. Its word forms constitute three lines: 1) A purely Bulgarian one – peperuda / peperuga / peperuna (from peperuda, butterfly); 2) A mixed one – from paparuna (poppy); and 3) A purely Greek one – perperuna / perperitsa. With regard to this latter the author assumes the existence of an etymological connection with perpera – the Middle Greek name for a Byzantine gold coin. He refers to the compulsory money reward received by the women participants in the rite.

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