Оплакване при смърт, сватба и изпращане у българи и руси
Lamentations at Deaths, at Weddings and When Seeing People off Bulgarians and Russians

Summary/Abstract: This work is part of a series of researches with the same common title. After the results of studies of these three types of lamentations were systematized, a comparative analysis of the customs among both peoples was made. The following more important conclusions were drawn: (1) Lamentation is a phasal, historical and typological phenomenon; (2) It is based on the ancient conception of death as a transition to a new state, a transition closely connected with the world of the forefathers; (3) The individual type-manifestations of lamentation were consecutively formed on this common age-old foundation. Among Bulgarians as well as among Russians they are ethnically differentiated; (4) The common features of lamentation among the two peoples cannot be explained by their common historical roots alone. It is an essential one and should be accepted as an indicator of greater closeness in culture (including the special features of its development) of the Slav forefathers of Bulgarians and Russians; (5) The presence of three degrees of lamentation among the Bulgarians breaks up the conception of confinement to the East European territory, where it has been noted so far. This confirms the historical and typological character of lamentation, narrows the significance (on the common genetic plane) of the results of the comparative study of Russian and non-Russian lamentations in this territory, and gives grounds to look for three-phase lamentations among other peoples.

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