Debovo is a village in the valley of Osam river at 35 km northeast of Pleven and 20 km south of Nikopol. Its town planning is in accordance with the typical linearity of this area in the Danubian Plain due to the specific geological and hydrological conditions following the river as the only source of drinking water. East of Debovo above Osam river Nikopol Plateau is situated. It comprises parts of the village and since 2008 it is a protected area as a part of NATURA 2000 (site code BG0002074). According to the last census in 2015 Debovo’s population is 600 residents.

Locals share different stories about the origin of the village and its name. One of them tells about the Turkish commander Debu who lived in the old village near the river, seated between Yankova melnitsa (Yankov’s Mill), as people know it, and the bridge leading to Marshovitsa (as Lyubenovo was once called). As the river often spilled over and flooded people’s houses, Debu suggested for the village to relocate a bit further where it can still be found today. The villagers were so grateful that they named the place after the commander.

Another story claims that Debovo was founded in 1858. After the Crimean War (1853-1856) Crimean Tatars from Russia left their hometowns and found shelter in Bulgaria. Some of them came from a village called Debul, so they named their new one Debu which later turned into Debovo. In time Bulgarians and Vlachs from the area moved in the village.

Yet another story traces its origins back to ancient times. A resident told us that in a hard-to-reach cave above the village a sacrificial table and a sacrificial rock could be found near Kota, one of the old riverbeds. Locals shared that ceramics, horse trappings and buckles were found near another basin, a part of a correction of the river, that is now drained and filled with soil. Locals believe that once there was a Thracian gold cache, still to be discovered by the specialists.

Other stories lead us back to VII century when khan Asparuh crossed Danube river and came along. Legend has it that he and his army stopped for a rest in an area around the water where there is a drinking fountain today. Asparuh said “Tebu” which means “This one here” as there were all the essential living conditions: woods, river, game, fish and drinking water. Later Tebu turned into Debu and so on.

In the area of Debovo there are different places with special meaning and history for the villagers. Some of those places are Kokiche polyana, Mecha bara, Selishteto, Iliyata, Buruna, etc.

Nowadays there are two large neighbourhoods in Debovo: Vlachs (on the entrance from Pleven to the center of the village) and Bulgarian (from the center to the exit for Nikopol) and a smaller, Tatar one, just before the Vlachs. There is also a Rom residence area. In the past most people used to speak Vlachs, however, today only elders use it to communicate among each other.

The local church has a cruciform ground plan with three naves and a bell tower above the narthex. It is named after St. George the Conqueror whose celebration day (6^th May) coincides with the village’s fair. The construction of the temple began in 1902, pausing during the wars, and in 1922 the building was officially finished but it opened for the public two years later. Even though it was subjected to occasional thievery, today some of the old icons and well-preserved frescoes can still be seen. Above the doorway there is a stone icon of the patron saint, painted and donated by the sculptor Nedko Krastev, born in the village, and by his wife and colleague Nikolina Kanarova.

They are also to be thanked for the monument of Vasil Levski situated at the central piazza right before the chitalishte (community center). Another monument is the memorial of the 38 soldiers from the village killed during the Balkan wars (1912-1913) and the First World War (1914-1918), designed by the sculptor Georgi Tyutyunov in 1942. It is situated in the village park and it was funded by local donations. On 6^th May (St. George’s Day) the villagers honour the memory of the soldiers.

On this day since 2008 under the guidance of Hubavinka Karabuleva chitalishte “Saglasie 1927” (“Agreement”) organizes the annual folklore fair “Zhivi vagleni” (“Live Coals”).

Nowadays when at St. George’s Day in the church people give offerings away for good health, locals have yet another religious celebration associated with the votive rock of the Holy Spirit [1]. There, at the highest point of the village, a stone plaque was placed by which a mass praying for rain is held.

Another traditional holiday, celebrated by the locals, is Todorovden when horse races (the so-called “kushias”) are organized. An Easter tradition is the making of two-coloured pink and yellow kozunak (a special Easter cake) kneaded with Turkish delight, raisins and walnuts. Unfortunately, this tradition is slowly fading. Loaves of three or four kilograms are baked on wood in special oval-shaped furnaces (some of them dug in the ground), sprinkled with poppy seed, seasame, etc. Such loaves are also prepared in the neighbouring village – Asenovo, which was founded by Catholics, settlers from Banat. People in Debovo still celebrate St. Iliya’s day on 2^nd August (old style) when they honour the dead by exchanging food like watermelon, melon, grapes, boiled corn, flat bread with a burning candle in it.

In the past Lazarovden (Lazar’s Day) was a long-awaited holiday for the young women who went through the village gathering eggs and other gifts starting on Friday after sunset and wandering till the dawn of Saturday [2]. Local young men did the same on 7^th January (Christmas, old style).

People still remember the ritual pomani (massive memorial services) that used to be held here and that commemorates not only the dead but also the living. Specialists know that in Vlachs culture “the beyond” is a copy of our world. It is located somewhere in the West and the souls there need all their earthly belongings represented by a table in the center full of food and drinks. That is why during those services the table is arranged not only with food but also with other belongings, necessary for the existence in the beyond, which at the end were given away to the numerous guests.

Traditions were preserved even during socialism when the government forbade going to church. However, locals still held secret christenings at home.

Along with the aforementioned celebrations probably one of the most important traditional ones in the local calendar was rusalya, better known here as kalush.

 

[1] The Day of the Holy Spirit (Whit Monday) is celebrated the day after Pentecost. It is then when the rusalya Sunday begins and kalushars perform their rituals.