Баячките от село Белцов
The sorceresses from the village Beltsov

Summary/Abstract: The ancient healing practices in the village Beltsov, downstream of the Yantra River, were the subject of consideration for the rural priest who was the first chronicler of the local community. He describes the sorceresses and their healing in a chapter, of his chronicle book, entitled “Interpretation of natural phenomena, beliefs and superstitions.” For him, this form of treatment is part of the pagan beliefs of the Bulgarians. The present paper is based on the field ethnological research of sorceresses in 2011 in Beltsov. There is no one to whom the sorceresses can pass their knowledge and who can continue the tradition, although many people know them and need them. This knowledge will live as long as people need it. It is part of the folk living heritage of the village and affects the cultural outlook of the local community.

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