The exhibition “Beyond Yesterday – an anthropological journey across the Balkans following the footsteps of the Manaki brothers, 1900” is the latest addition to the cultural calendar of the Regional Ethnographic Museum – Plovdiv. The photographic exhibition is a visual-anthropological project by Romanian anthropologist Catalin D. Constantin.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the brothers Yanaki and Milton Manaki documented, through their photographs, the lives of the Vlach communities in Macedonia and Epirus. At that time, these settlements bore different names, the roads were different, and the entire region was under Ottoman rule. One of the brothers, Yanaki, spent three years in Plovdiv. Little is known about the photographs he took during that period. More than a century later, Catalin D. Constantin retraces the route of the Manaki family, recreating the same scenes from the same vantage points.

“Beyond Yesterday” brings together historical photographs from the archives of the Museum of the Romanian Peasant and contemporary images taken by the author, creating a visual dialogue about cultural memory, identity, and the profound transformations of the Balkan world. More than a simple attempt to pinpoint the exact locations of old photographs, this visual anthropology project tells a story of encounters and discoveries along the way.

“I was not simply interested in recreating old photographs with the same framing. Rather, it was a way to enter isolated communities in the Balkans and see how they live — today, not yesterday. How much have the Balkans changed over the past hundred years? This is the question that concerns me. Photography proved to be an extremely useful tool for field research — a path toward understanding how small worlds and isolated communities change under the pressure of history. From an anthropological perspective, this is a way to describe the course of our own history — here, at home, in the Balkans,” the author comments.

The project is part of a broader series of visual studies dedicated to reconstructing Balkan cultural heritage from the early 20th century. The exhibition has already been presented in Greece — in Metsovo and Ioannina, where the Manaki brothers opened their first photography studio — as well as in Bitola, at the National Gallery in Skopje (Republic of North Macedonia), in Korça (Albania), at the Museum of the Romanian Peasant in Bucharest, in Istanbul and Ankara. It is now coming to Plovdiv, Bulgaria, and later this year will continue its journey to Thessaloniki.

Catalin D. Constantin is an anthropologist, book editor, and associate professor at the Faculty of Letters of the University of Bucharest. His exhibitions have been presented in Romania, Spain, Turkey, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Poland, Greece, Albania, Ireland, Italy, North Macedonia, and Portugal.

The official opening of the exhibition will take place on April 3 at 3:00 PM at the museum, 2 Dr. Chomakov St. On April 2 at 6:00 PM, also at the museum, the author invites everyone interested in anthropology and photography to a personal meeting.

The events at REM – Plovdiv are organized in partnership with the Embassy of Romania in the Republic of Bulgaria and the Honorary Consulate of Romania in Plovdiv.

The material “Beyond Yesterday” – an anthropological journey across the Balkans is published for the first time on REGIONAL ETHNOGRAPHIC MUSEUM - PLOVDIV.

“Bulgarian Felts – A Message from Antiquity” is the title of the newest visiting exhibition at the Ethnographic House of the Regional History Museum – Pazardzhik. The exhibition is organized by the Regional Ethnographic Museum – Plovdiv and will open to visitors on March 6 at 6:00 p.m.

The exhibition presents one of the oldest textile crafts – felting. As early as antiquity, the nomadic peoples of the steppes discovered a way to use sheep’s fleece, creating items from arranged wool. Felt – a non-woven textile produced without the use of a vertical loom – is considered the earliest form of textile in human history. It has been used to make yurts, blankets, rugs, clothing, footwear, hats, and various household items.

In the Bulgarian lands, the felting technique was brought by the Proto-Bulgarians. Ancient ornamental, compositional, and technological features testify to the migrations of this ethnic group and to cultural interactions with Central Asian, Altai, and Caucasian peoples. The term “felt” was first mentioned in the Ostromir Gospel in the 11th century.

Felt was widespread across the entire Bulgarian ethnic territory where sheep breeding was developed – from the Vidin region to Dobruja, and from Macedonia, the Sofia region, and the Sredna Gora mountains through Thrace to Strandzha. Until the end of the 19th century, different names were used for it – plas, plastina, plastitsa, plusche, pazla, keche, stele, tegaltia, teltia, and beleme.

Colorful felt carpets, spread on the floor or hung on the walls, brought warmth and beauty to the home, and due to their rich symbolism they were often used as wedding rugs for newlyweds.

Koprivshtitsa is known as the center where felting traditions have been best preserved, and some of the most impressive multicolored examples of folk art originate there. The tradition survived the longest in the Vidin region – until the mid-20th century. In recent decades, however, interest in this ancient craft has been revived, and contemporary felt masters are breathing new life into the tradition.

The exhibition “Bulgarian Felts – A Message from Antiquity” invites the public to experience the richness of an ancient craft that preserves the memory of our cultural roots and the skills of generations of Bulgarian masters. It will remain open to visitors at the museum in Pazardzhik until June 1.

The material “Bulgarian Felts – A Message from Antiquity” is published for the first time on REGIONAL ETHNOGRAPHIC MUSEUM - PLOVDIV.

The festive days, rich in rituals and symbolism, are the most appropriate time to recall our roots, to reconnect with the customs of our ancestors, and to pay tribute to the woman—the guardian of the family and tradition.

The exhibition takes visitors on an exciting journey through the life cycle of the Thracian woman—from birth, through youth and maturity, to old age. It reveals her rich inner world, filled with rituals, symbols, and meaningful roles within the household and society. The woman is presented as a creator of comfort and harmony, an educator, and a bearer of knowledge and traditions passed down from generation to generation.

The exhibition highlights key stages in the life of the Thracian woman—birth, Lazaruvane (the Lazarus Day ritual), engagement, wedding, and motherhood—along with the related customs and beliefs. Emphasis is placed on the family, social, and ritual functions of women, as well as on the norms and traditions they observed.

The display also includes traditional costumes and jewelry from the Thracian region, rich in distinctive symbolism, which further enhance the understanding of the region’s abundant material and spiritual culture.

Residents and visitors of Hisarya can immerse themselves in the wondrous world of the Thracian woman until the end of July 2026.

The material The Wondrous World of the Thracian Woman is published for the first time on REGIONAL ETHNOGRAPHIC MUSEUM - PLOVDIV.

Special attention is given to the perceptions and beliefs that people held about the human body and diseases as an integral part of life. The exhibition tells the story of some of the most widespread diseases such as smallpox, plague, cholera, and fever.

The old Bulgarians believed that illnesses were beings living in other worlds. When they came to earth, they took on human form but could become invisible, “enter” people’s bodies, and make them ill. Disease harmed not only the body but also the soul. Once it struck a person, it drained their strength. Therefore, people sought ways for quick and successful healing through various practices of protection and purification of both body and soul. They turned for help to healers, herbalists, folk doctors, and bone-setters, prayed to saints such as St. Charalambos, St. Barbara, and St. Panteleimon, and performed rituals to drive away and neutralize evil spirits.

The exhibition “In the Name of Life” also presents specific ritual practices involving fire, water, and herbs, believed to protect against “impurity” and disease. Visitors will also learn how bread could be used for healing. Among the highlights are various plants and herbs that not only possess healing powers but also protect people from the harmful influence of dragons, fairies, and other mythological creatures.

The exhibition can be visited until February 4 in Teaching Building 2 of the Medical University of Plovdiv, located at 26 Lyuben Karavelov Street. After that, it will be displayed at the Regional Ethnographic Museum – Plovdiv.

The material Secrets and Practices of Bulgarian Folk Medicine Revealed in the New Exhibition of the Regional Ethnographic Museum – Plovdiv is published for the first time on REGIONAL ETHNOGRAPHIC MUSEUM - PLOVDIV.

This traveling exhibition from the Regional Ethnographic Museum – Plovdiv reveals a glimpse into the magical practices rooted in Bulgarian folk customs—some of which are still alive today, while others have long been forgotten.

The display invites visitors into a lesser-known, mysterious world of rituals practiced by our ancestors.
Magic accompanied both everyday life and festive occasions, providing people with a sense of security about the future. It comprises actions and rituals performed with the belief that, through specific means and methods, one can influence others, animals, and nature.

Magic was practiced by individuals believed to be connected to supernatural powers: herbalists, fortune-tellers, enchantresses, sorceresses, charmers, and others. Even the shepherd held magical knowledge. These skilled individuals could influence life and death in various ways. They would use their knowledge either to help and heal or, when guided by dark forces, to harm.

The guest exhibition from REM – Plovdiv weaves joy and sorrow together, conveying wishes for luck, prosperity, and health. This magical path of ancestral wisdom is vibrant and serves as an amulet to protect against evil. The folklore is filled with enchanting beliefs—how to bring down the moon, turn a person into an animal, protect oneself from a dragon, or make a loved one fall in love…

The collection of valuable exhibits will remain on display at the Pazardzhik museum until February 2 next year.

The material Spinning threads and weaving dreams, I intertwine joy and sorrow in Pazardzhik is published for the first time on REGIONAL ETHNOGRAPHIC MUSEUM - PLOVDIV.

The exhibition, which will be available to visitors in the capital until the end of April next year, traces the evolution of communication from ancient times to the present day. It is richly illustrated with visual and textual materials, highlighting the most significant periods and facts regarding communications in Bulgarian lands – starting from the time of the Ottoman Empire with the “Tatar horse post” and specially established “menzils” (relay stations).

It also covers the introduction of the telegraph in Bulgaria in 1855 and its chronological development. The telegraph, invented around 50 years before the telephone, was the primary means of long-distance communication for many years. A Morse apparatus from 1857 is the earliest item in the collection. In the recreated postal station from the early 20th century, there is a ribbon telegraph with a mounted bronze candlestick, used during power outages.

Visitors can also learn much about the postal system at the end of the 19th century – such as the mandatory carrying of weapons when traveling with the post, the uniform of the postman, and the origins of the postal emblem featuring a coiled horn with a lion inside it, embroidered on postal hats. Authentic documents and forms used by the postal administration are also on display.

Interestingly, the first telephone conversation in Bulgaria took place in Plovdiv — from the office of Aleko Bogoridi, Governor of Eastern Rumelia, to his subordinates’ offices. Also in Plovdiv, during the First Industrial Exhibition in 1892, the first intercity telephone conversation with Sofia was held from a special phone booth constructed in the city garden.

The exhibition presents unique authentic artifacts — some of the first telephone devices to appear in Bulgaria in the late 19th century, owned by municipalities or wealthy households. Notable are large external phones by companies like Berliner, Western Electric, and Siemens & Halske, the latter featuring two receivers for conference calls. Also impressive is one of the first coin-operated telephones made by Ericsson, complete with original user instructions.

A rich collection of postage stamps is also on display, featuring samples from the first centime issues (1879) through to the 1980s. The first philatelic society in Bulgaria was founded in Plovdiv, laying the foundation for the revival of this tradition in the present day.

The material Fast, Accurate, Urgent! A Journey Through the History of Communication is published for the first time on REGIONAL ETHNOGRAPHIC MUSEUM - PLOVDIV.

The exhibition features more than 200 artefacts, accompanied by informational posters that illustrate the Europeanization of everyday life in Bulgarian cities and the transition to Modernity at the end of the 19th century.

During this period, Plovdiv and Ruse were the main economic drivers of the young Bulgarian state, and the prosperity they generated influenced the lifestyles of their residents. Fashion trends, introduced to Bulgaria through the imperial styles of Vienna and Constantinople, shaped the unique atmosphere of these cities and paved the way for various cultural and technological innovations, many of which happened in Bulgaria for the first time.

The emergence of luxury as a social status triggered significant changes in urban architecture, home interiors, dining habits, music culture, clothing, and fashion accessories.

Visitors to the exhibition can admire luxurious dining sets, candlesticks, fruit stands, and oil lamps, as well as dresses and lingerie from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, once seen only in family photo albums. The exhibition also presents intriguing male grooming accessories such as a Solingen steel razor, a porcelain jar for shaving powder, and silver snuffboxes.

Other fascinating exhibits include an old miniature film projector, which illuminates the film strip with a candle, a stereoscope that brings postcards to life, and an early 20th-century French wall telephone.

A cast-iron pressure cooker, hand mixers, and serving trays for eggs are just some of the nostalgic kitchen attractions from the past.

On the first floor, visitors can explore ala-franga paintings from the Revival-era houses of Old Plovdiv, which serve as authentic decorative elements recreating the interiors of modern homes from the mid-to-late 19th century.

For the most curious visitors, interactive displays will answer questions such as “What is ‘kef’?” or “In which city is the main street called Alexandrovskaya?”. As visitors take a walk through this historical passage, they will also enjoy Viennese waltzes, which once marked Europe’s musical influence in Bulgaria.

The exhibition is open to visitors until August 11, 2025.

The material The exhibition “Everyday Life and Style: Urban Ethnography” is hosted by ETAR – Ethnographic Open-Air Museum is published for the first time on REGIONAL ETHNOGRAPHIC MUSEUM - PLOVDIV.

This exhibition, presented by the Regional Ethnographic Museum – Plovdiv, takes us into the lives of Thracian women and their world—rituals, traditions, and daily life across the different stages of their lives.

It tells stories—from a woman’s birth through the traditions of lazaruvane, engagements, and weddings to motherhood. It shows how women created cozy homes, preserved traditions, and passed down their knowledge to future generations.

This is an opportunity for younger visitors to connect with forgotten Bulgarian customs. At the same time, for older generations, it’s a moment of memories and a return to the stories of their grandmothers.

The exhibition will be open to visitors until February 18, 2025. Don’t miss it!

The material The exhibition “The Wonderful World of the Thracian Woman” visits the Historical Museum – Strelcha is published for the first time on REGIONAL ETHNOGRAPHIC MUSEUM - PLOVDIV.

The exhibits are from the Regional Ethnographic Museum-Plovdiv and present the traditional folk musical instruments (bagpipe, gadulka, tambourine, zurna, etc.) and the instruments typical for the new post-liberated city (violin, viola, zither, mandolin, etc.).

Over 100 classical and traditional musical instruments made of wood from the fund of the Regional Ethnographic Museum – Plovdiv are included.

Musical instruments that tell the personal stories of real-life “heroes” from the daily lives of Bulgarians are also part of the exhibition. The magic of the Bulgarian bagpipe, gadulka and kaval, combined with the elegance of classical instruments, recreates the spirit of Bulgaria after the Liberation.

The exhibition will be open until November 18, 2024.

The material The exhibition “The Song of the Wood” is hosted by the Historical Museum – Etropole is published for the first time on REGIONAL ETHNOGRAPHIC MUSEUM - PLOVDIV.

The exhibition is presented by the Regional Ethnographic Museum – Plovdiv and will take you back to the 19th century, when the “Alafranga” style became popular and reflected the influence of European culture on our city.

The material The Alafranga Time is published for the first time on REGIONAL ETHNOGRAPHIC MUSEUM - PLOVDIV.