The past in question: modern Macedonia and the uncertainties of nation By Keith Brown

I wonder how many of you out there have ever witnessed the lazarki sing at someones doorstep?

There is a similar custom in Greece as well,the "lazarines".It's obtained in Macedonia,Thessaly,Thrace and some Aegean islands .

Thrace

The Lazarines in Komotini
29/04/2002
Beautiful initiative had an impact.
The Lazarus carols chanted young girls in Komotini, at the behest of the Center for folk events.
Pleasant surprise felt by passing the center of Komotini and the shopkeepers who listened to the carols of Lazarus Saturday from young girls who dressed in traditional costumes they returned to the center and of course it was in the limelight since the custom is about to extinguish.
As we inform the President of the Center for folk events Meneselidou Wisdom, "is a tradition that we find in Paradimi particularly in our region.
The "Lazarines, young girls dressed traditionally, holding baskets decorated with flowers, come home in the village, we turned the streets, and wish" Happy Birthday ", chanting carols Lazarus.
One of them is in front of a doll which portrays the Lent, which is over. Uncooked eggs gathered then to the paint on Maundy Thursday, fruits, nuts and candies above, except that now we offer them the world and hoped "many years".
Particularly enjoyable was the presence of all shape and hope to be revived each time, because we all need a return to tradition.
http://www.xronos.gr/detail.php?ID=29202

Macedonia

Serres .- Of Our correspondent A. Tapaskou
From carols Lazarus «flooded» Serres. For another year of high school Greek women, faithful to the traditions, customs and traditions, revived the ancient custom «Lazarines» Girls under 12 years Lazarines dressed in local costumes and decorated with flowers and colorful ribbons singing herald the resurrection of Lazarus. The carols sung this year the agencies of the city and its inhabitants and the money collected will go to charity.

In Serres delightful stay Lazarus, girls, called Lazarines, pick flowers that decorate a basket. On the day of the celebration, wearing local costumes and holding the basket, of going all the houses of the village, singing carols Lazarus: «Came the Lazarus came the bay, it's Sunday they eat fish».

According to author Nick Terpnioti Pashaloudis the custom of «Lazarines» was then ancient customs, such as supporting an article about the carols of the region is directly related to the current carols and customs of ancient Greece. The relationship involved in all the carols, the Twelve Days of Christmas carols, the first of March, Lazarus, and other carols. It supports the writings of Mr. Pashaloudis in antiquity, those who deal with the calendar, announced the change of year, or month, with carols for children. The children carried the message of change with time songs, except the messages and good wishes were. And people give little messengers to various small tips.

«Old carols saying to the beginning of each month, then introduced to said each New Year, which changes every so often for various reasons. But because people's habits are not easily changed, in these movements of the New Year, which went a winter and a spring had others to follow with their carols and others insisted in what they knew. Thus scattered carols at various times. In Christianity, the custom of the Christmas carol has survived in the climate, and we have until today to twelve days of Christmas carols, carols of March 1, the carols of Lazarus. The carols at first was no religious character. The religious elements, the first pagan and then Christian, entered the carols slowly, and the location of the ancient gods took Christ and the saints of the Christian religion. So lazariana carols in the village seem similar to the ancient carols », notes included Mr Pashaloudis.

The fact however is that the delightful custom revived for more than two and a half centuries.
http://www.greeknewsonline.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=10202

Thessaly

The Saturday of Lazarus, women dressed in traditional costumes, white scarves and white skirts, the so-called «Lazarines» danced and sang songs of Lazarus. One girl was getting all the girls at home and danced until dawn the next day.
Mothers of girls after cooking various dishes we got home the girl who hosted the other girls.

On Sunday morning after church and afternoon danced outside the church yard. Then in the afternoon "send off" Lazarus to the area «tree» of Dolichi.

Today this custom is revived every Palm Sunday in the central squarehttp://www.agrotravel.gr/agro/site/AgroTravel/t_docpage?sparam=thessalia&doc=/Documents/Agrotravel/event/larissa/lazarines&sub_nav=Lodgings

Chios island.

The custom of Lazarus kept alive girls school of Volissos. Like the old days «Lazarines» turned one-one houses Volissiana the carols and said Lazarus.
In their hands kept baskets that were decorate with flowers that had accumulated from the previous one. The baskets, the householders-and wants the custom, they put their eggs, fruits and other foods. Of course, in today's world, children are brought together except eggs and money by visiting their homes.
Also, another custom of the day was the «Agermoi». One of the girls was holding a doll which shook with the rhythm of the song. The doll was the model of Lazarus and sang the «Agermous»:
«Tell us what you saw Lazarus,
in Hades that I went.
I saw fear, I saw tremors,
I saw suffering and pain ...
http://www.dimokratiki.org/?p=8465

Btw,a similar custom exists in Bulgaria as well.

http://www.bnr.bg/RadioBulgaria/Emission_Greek/Theme_Folklor/Material/11042009_lazarovden.htm

http://dunav.org.il/dance_regions/women ... lkans.html

It's an interesting ritual def. The Serbs have it too. I imagine that the Romanians might even have a version of the Lazarki.

In my town we call it Lazarica (no idea what you do than). will have to ask granma:D

When I lived in Macedonia, this is what we did in Bitola on that day:

One of the neighborhood girls dressed up as a bride and one of the boys as a groom; the rest of the neighborhood kids were the 'svatovi'....we would then go from house to house and sing.... in return we'd get money or one of the 9 ingredients found in a "Turte" (sweet bread...yummm good stuff). The money was used to buy the needed ingredients for the bread and some Smoki!!! In the end, the bride's mom would make the Turte.

I wish I could remember the words to the songs that we sang. We had soooo much fun... I am so glad I spent my childhood years in Macedonia...rich culture, awesome traditions, what more can you ask for?

I love 'turte'! Turte is also made when a baby grows it's first tooth