In Bulgarian folklore Samodiva is an ethereal female wood nymph. She is unearthly beautiful and eternally young. Her hair is blond and long, her waist is thin and petite, her eyes can bewitch and dazzle or even kill. Any man who lays eyes on her instantly falls in love. Samodivas’ attire consists of long white gowns and shirts and a rainbow-coloured or green belt. They have a white mantel, also called a shadow, in which their power lies. They like to ride deer, using twisted snakes for reins and often carry with them bows and arrows.
The wood nymphs live in dark forests, in big old trees, caves or forgotten huts which are near water sources, wells or rivers.
Samodivas can be spotted from spring to autumn. In winter they live in the mythical village Zmeykovo, which is located at the edge of the world and is a home to many mythical creatures. When they are on earth they are active at night and disappear immediately when the sun comes out, because they fear it.
At twilight, the samodivas go to fresh water sources, strip naked, wash themselves and their clothes which they lay out to dry in the moonlight. They keep a watchful eye on their drying clothes, because if a man steals their mantle, where their power lies, they turn into normal women and have to obey the man. After washing themselves and their clothes, the samodivas gather around and start singing and dancing. It is known that the samodiva’s songs are the most beautiful and their dances are the most graceful. If a late traveller sees the samodivas’ dance, he is enticed to join them and dances with them from midnight to dawn. When the sun’s rays appear, the nymphs disappear in haste and leave the traveller to die from exhaustion. The samodivas love music and often kidnap shepherds, so that they can play kaval (shepherd’s pipe) for them while they dance.
Samodivas are not always harmful. Sometimes they appear like normal working women and help with the harvest. They would especially help women with children. If a man does something good for a samodiva, she becomes his patron or a sworn sister. Sometimes, a samodiva can fall in love with a human and bear him children, who grow up to be great heroes.
Samodivas are forest creatures and therefore knowledgeable about herbs and cures. However, they never share their secrets willingly. The only way to obtain their knowledge is to eavesdrop on one of their gatherings.
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" The love of the Samodiva"
Мрак ли падне, аз тръгвам да скитам,
сам се губя в потайни места,
самодиви ме чакат в нощта
и на коня ми гривата сплитат.
Равнини и дървета се гонят,
самодивите водят хора,
а в безкрайната страшна гора
те се смеят под краката на коня.
Аз не диря ни отдих, ни пристан
и препускам за обич и радост,
а подковите пеят и падат:
златни гривни над букови листи.
Колко леко и хубаво свири
тъмен вятър през черни хралупи,
и далече във хижите схлупени
неспокойните люде се крият.
А преминат ли нощните сови,
самодивите хвърлят цветя,
падат весело в пътя подковите, -
сякаш огнени гривни в нощта
Автор: Иван Буюклийски
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When darkness falls, I'm going to wander,
I get myself lost in mistery places,
Samodivas are waiting for me in the night
And braided my house's mane.
Plains and threes are chasing each other,
Samodivas are leading the dance,
And in the endless, scary forest
They are laughing under my horse's legs.
I'm seeking nither rest, nor shelter
And running towards love and joy,
And horseshoes are singing and falling -
Like golden bracelets on beech leaves.
How beautiful the dark wind plays
Through black hollows,
And in the far аway vilige
The restless people are hiding.
When the night owls fly over
Samodivas throw flowers,
The horseshoes are marrily falling on ground
As if fire bracelets in the night.
Author: Ivan Buyukliiski
Ще те чакам, дори и след седем лета,
да замръкнеш във тъмни усои,
а гората - сестрицата моя добра,
да обърка пътеките твои.
Ще се луташ уплашен, така не видял
как обратния път си изгубил,
че години живял си, до днес не разбрал -
самодива във теб се е влюбила.
И на горска поляна щом стигнеш до мен,
ще се спусна към тебе щастлива.
Ти от моята хубост ще спреш удивен,
а очите ми ще те опиват.
И във мрака звездици със сребърен смях
на рояк покрай мен ще лудуват.
Аз ще скокна, ще плесна с ръце и със тях
самодивско хоро ще танцувам.
А когато Вечерница горе изгрей,
те край нея ще спрат укротени.
Сред дърветата тихо ветрец ще повей,
ще приседна до теб уморена.
Ще направя постеля от мек горски мъх,
а завивка ще бъдат косите ми.
И на месеца ясен златистия връх
ще ти спусна почти до очите.
И дъхът ми омаен до теб ще гори,
ще те милвам със пръсти атлазени.
Ще ухае на билки и горски треви,
Змей-Горянин съня ни ще пази.
А когато Зората разгъне снага,
босонога ще хукна по съмнало
и от кладенец таен със жива вода
тежки менци за теб ще напълня.
От цветята блестяща роса ще сбера,
после ягоди - дъхаво-вкусни,
със вълшебна милувка, една по една,
ще поднасям към твоите устни.
А когато накрая, за теб и за мен,
аз отвара за обич направя,
ще останеш завинаги ти запленен
и за другия свят ще забравиш.
Автор: Мария Вергова
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I'll wait for you even as years pass
To end up in the dark woods,
And the forest - my good sister
You will wander around scared,
Not knowing how you lost thy way back,
As having lived years without realizing
That Samodiva has fallen in love with you.
When you find me in the forest meadow
My beauty will make stop in wonder
And my eyes will make you drunk.
And in the darkness, stars with silver laughter
I will hop, will clap my hands
And will dance the Samodivas' dance with them.
The stars will stop around her pacified
The wind will blow around the trees
And I will sit by your side tired,
I will make a bed from soft forest moss
And my hair will be your blanket.
And I will lower the Crescent Moon
And my charming breath will glow around you
And I gently caress you with my fingers.
The air will smells of herbs and forest grass.
The forest dragon will protect our dreams.
Barefoot I will run at the first light
And from secret well with magic water
I'll fill for you heavy metal piles.
From the flowers shining dew I will gather
And strawberries delicious I will collect
I will bring them to your lips.
And when at the end, for you and for me
I will make a love potion,
You'll enchanted forever remain
And the other wold never remember.
(The translations of the poems are mine and that's why they are not very good, but at least you can understand what the poems are about)
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