Някои особености на манталитета на власите от Видинско
Some Specific Features of the Mentality of Wallachians from the region of Vidin

Summary/Abstract: Summary The work presents some of the specific features of the Wallachians mentality proceeding from ethnographic field research materials and observations. These specific features are determined by internal (psychological) characteristics and behaviour and have been considered in connection with the changes taking place in the reality during the past 50 years. The specific features of the mentality change parallel to the changes taking place in reality. That is why the first tentatively differentiated group of distinctive features of the Wallachians has been shown in its evolution. These include a sense of unequal status in the alien language environment; a striving for emancipation; active approach (accumulations by work, deliberately restricted births rate for economic reasons, striving for education, active interpersonality contacts with individuals of higher status); demonstration of financial and social prestige; self-criticism. The second tentative group of specific features of the Wallachian mentality is associated with the tenacity of the traditional beliefs and practices and with the conservatism in their perpetuation and preservation as knowledge and experience. Within this pattern, the specific features are identified in the knowledge of traditional beliefs, the observance of bans, the performance of „magic" actions, the upkeep of practices through examples from „reality". Since the mentality stands out as compared with the familiar characteristics of a certain other group of individuals, attention has been paid to the stereotypes that the Bulgarians from the region of Vidin have with respect to the Wallachians.

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