Young Virgins For Sale in a Bride Market in Bulgaria

Bulgaria is home to a unique and often misunderstood cultural phenomenon – the bride market of the gypsy Kalaidzhi Roma. This practice, deeply rooted in tradition, sees the Kalaidzhi, a subgroup of the Roma gypsy community, gathering annually to arrange marriages for their daughters, a process that involves intricate preparations, negotiations, and financial transactions. This chapter aims to unravel the complexities of this tradition, offering a window into a world where cultural preservation clashes and coexists with modern societal norms.