Четири старинни занаятчийски прозвища
Four Old Crafts Nicknames

Summary/Abstract: On the basis of family written sources, official documents, data obtained from travellers, folklore and literature this article studies the cultural-historical features of four old crafts. The social concept of the role and aspect of the work of craftsmen is synthesized in the nicknames stitar, mehledzija, kumetcija and caksirdzija, used in the 15th-18th century in the southwestern part of the Bulgarian historical and ethnical territory. The nickname stitar used in the region of Tetovo in the 15th- J 6th century was given to a blacksmith who was a past master in the making of shields, the ancient protective weapon. Craftsmen belonging to the guild of bakers and cooks who grilled shoulders of lamb on spits, were called mehledzija, in accordance with the needs of society to differentiate its members. A dressmaker who specialized in making the outer festive (probably wedding) garments of a young girl was called a kumetcija. These special garments were worn in the Prilep region at the end of the 18th century. The nickname caksirdzija, which survived up to the 18th century in the speech of the Prilep region, designated a tailor who specialized in making men's trousers of various kinds, known among Bulgarians as poturi, becvi, cesiri or caksiri. These four nicknames were relatively differentiated as nouns, but did not indicate any innovations in the range of crafts that were widespread in Bulgarian material culture. Their appearance and vitality depended on preferences and ethnic, religious, economic, class, fashion , age, and even sex tastes prevalent in the 15th-l 7th century. The scope of these factors in time, space and society was regularly responsible for the development of the work of these craftsmen, although chiefly in its quantitative development, as well as its local and regional appearance.

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