Lazarice

Lazarice (Serbian: лазарице), also known by its Bulgarian name Lazaruvane (Bulgarian: лазаруване), is a South Slavic traditional procession during the Eastern Orthodox feast of Lazareva Subota (corresponding to, but distinct from Lazarus Saturday in other Orthodox churches), the day before Palm Sunday.

Slavic tribes, settled in the Balkans in 6th - 7th century was adopted and developed part of the Greek - Roman traditions in their rites.

The ritual is performed by young girls (typically of age 16 who are unmarried), called lazarki (Bulgarian: лазарки).

The girls decorate their hair richly and colourfully (usually with flower and ribbon wreaths) and dance around the village singing songs.

It is no longer widely practiced in the large cities where many people live, and tends to be kept alive in the smaller villages - at least those which have young girls.