Back in the 90’s we had some friends visit Bulgaria and they asked “what’s with all the wanted posters?” 😂
SecretUnlikely3848 on
It’s to remember the people that have passed on, usually you will see these posters on family doors. I know I have one on my front door of my late mother.
You could see them out in the streets as well. Or well… the town I am from has them.
wgaca2 on
This practice is a way to honor the memory of the departed and to inform the wider community, allowing friends, neighbors, and acquaintances to pay their respects
177013-228922-4299 on
that’s where those people used to live, it’s so people who didn’t know of their passing find out and those who were close to them are reminded of them every time
fixme123 on
It’s an old tradition. Before we had phones and internet, that’s how people were notified of a person’s passing outside their close circles. They would put these around places that the person often visited.
Instead of putting an obituary in the paper, people do these. They are not as widespread anymore and are more as a remembrance thing nowdays.
Deranox on
It’s how we initially announce the death of a person so others would know when and where the funeral is or commemorate their passing on the 3, 6, 12 months etc.
It’s a slavic tradition, though many slavic countries have moved past that or do some other variation.
Personally I find it annoying as they’re everywhere and nobody bothers to remove them. Place one temporarily where the person lived or at the cemetary, but not throughout the city/village like many do.
CashKeyboard on
As an addon question from another foreigner: Is there an etiquette on removing these? I always find it somewhat poetic when those start fading out just like memories of the departed. But then again I’ve seen villages where the amount of these in some central place is staggering, as if they’re being collected on purpose almost.
Pafkata92 on
What others said. But I don’t like the tradition, it’s just ugly and depressing to have those all over walls/trees/objects.
jooro_a on
To judge you even from the afterlife.
IhateEfrickingA on
There are sometimes on trees as well.
auntarie on
it’s how we show respect to the dead. it’s not mandatory but it’s rather popular.
DsrFrLf on
A tradition that will hopefully be left behind more and more with each passing year, it’s just another part of bulgarian culture being ‘obsessed’ with the dead and not being able to let go of them for good, when they pass. But that’s a whole other conversation for a different time.
theobesegineer on
commemoration, usually on doors though
PlamenIB on
“WANTED” posters
from_the_east on
These are the people who are actively avoiding paying any taxes.
Th3Dark0ccult on
It’s a tradition around here. I’m one of like 5 bulgarians who hate it, but since everyone else disagrees it’s not going away any time soon.
BChicken420 on
I never understood it either + as a kid it always ruined my vibe seeing dead people everywhere and ppl saying they are sad and shit. And the worst part is nobody cares but its some weird thing to feel guilty if you dont do it. Its like those chain letters you gotta do it the day the person died the after 40 days have passed then 3 months, then 6 months, then 1 year and after that its yearly
best31 on
Бекауз итс чепар тис веи ху гиф а фук мен аре у крази.
Ronnius on
It’s an obituary
Aware_Struggle_1473 on
Yes. Been wondering this my whole life. It is weird and I don’t know why we do it. Seems to be kind of like a „news bulletin for dead people“ or smting.
Dishiman on
To ward off spirits.
timisorean_02 on
This also happens in other countries in the balkans, and in southern Romania as well.
Kindersibueno on
I just went home to visit my grandma and they forgot to tell me about at least three people who died in the neighbourhood. I only found out through the wanted posters. Theyre useful!
No_Wash_4839 on
Its just a yet another 3rd world country depressing tradition
AlexKazumi on
You must understand, the Bulgarian society is deeply rooted in the village life.
One century ago, it made complete sense to inform the entire village that someone has deceased, or important milestones are upcoming – 40 days after the death, half an year, then every year. Simply because everyone knew everyone, and, most probably, everyone was extended family with mostly everyone.
With the advent of city life, it does not make much sense anymore (who knows Ivan Dimitrov in 1,5 million Sofia?) but the tradition, being a tradition, goes on.
kamenovkamen on
Its a habit from back in the day when this was the only way to inform about someone passing.. especially in smaller towns
ptmadness on
We celebrate that they are finally gone!
No-Leek8824 on
It’s an illogical condition in our country, which I don’t really understand, but I guess people give too much importance of their closed ones, considering that they are dead. Never understood why the dead deserve respect, they are too dead to care. Respect usually go hand by hand with fear, so i guess it has something to do with the fear of death and not that much with the deceased.
28 Comments
Good question…
Back in the 90’s we had some friends visit Bulgaria and they asked “what’s with all the wanted posters?” 😂
It’s to remember the people that have passed on, usually you will see these posters on family doors. I know I have one on my front door of my late mother.
You could see them out in the streets as well. Or well… the town I am from has them.
This practice is a way to honor the memory of the departed and to inform the wider community, allowing friends, neighbors, and acquaintances to pay their respects
that’s where those people used to live, it’s so people who didn’t know of their passing find out and those who were close to them are reminded of them every time
It’s an old tradition. Before we had phones and internet, that’s how people were notified of a person’s passing outside their close circles. They would put these around places that the person often visited.
Instead of putting an obituary in the paper, people do these. They are not as widespread anymore and are more as a remembrance thing nowdays.
It’s how we initially announce the death of a person so others would know when and where the funeral is or commemorate their passing on the 3, 6, 12 months etc.
It’s a slavic tradition, though many slavic countries have moved past that or do some other variation.
Personally I find it annoying as they’re everywhere and nobody bothers to remove them. Place one temporarily where the person lived or at the cemetary, but not throughout the city/village like many do.
As an addon question from another foreigner: Is there an etiquette on removing these? I always find it somewhat poetic when those start fading out just like memories of the departed. But then again I’ve seen villages where the amount of these in some central place is staggering, as if they’re being collected on purpose almost.
What others said. But I don’t like the tradition, it’s just ugly and depressing to have those all over walls/trees/objects.
To judge you even from the afterlife.
There are sometimes on trees as well.
it’s how we show respect to the dead. it’s not mandatory but it’s rather popular.
A tradition that will hopefully be left behind more and more with each passing year, it’s just another part of bulgarian culture being ‘obsessed’ with the dead and not being able to let go of them for good, when they pass. But that’s a whole other conversation for a different time.
commemoration, usually on doors though
“WANTED” posters
These are the people who are actively avoiding paying any taxes.
It’s a tradition around here. I’m one of like 5 bulgarians who hate it, but since everyone else disagrees it’s not going away any time soon.
I never understood it either + as a kid it always ruined my vibe seeing dead people everywhere and ppl saying they are sad and shit. And the worst part is nobody cares but its some weird thing to feel guilty if you dont do it. Its like those chain letters you gotta do it the day the person died the after 40 days have passed then 3 months, then 6 months, then 1 year and after that its yearly
Бекауз итс чепар тис веи ху гиф а фук мен аре у крази.
It’s an obituary
Yes. Been wondering this my whole life. It is weird and I don’t know why we do it. Seems to be kind of like a „news bulletin for dead people“ or smting.
To ward off spirits.
This also happens in other countries in the balkans, and in southern Romania as well.
I just went home to visit my grandma and they forgot to tell me about at least three people who died in the neighbourhood. I only found out through the wanted posters. Theyre useful!
Its just a yet another 3rd world country depressing tradition
You must understand, the Bulgarian society is deeply rooted in the village life.
One century ago, it made complete sense to inform the entire village that someone has deceased, or important milestones are upcoming – 40 days after the death, half an year, then every year. Simply because everyone knew everyone, and, most probably, everyone was extended family with mostly everyone.
With the advent of city life, it does not make much sense anymore (who knows Ivan Dimitrov in 1,5 million Sofia?) but the tradition, being a tradition, goes on.
Its a habit from back in the day when this was the only way to inform about someone passing.. especially in smaller towns
We celebrate that they are finally gone!
It’s an illogical condition in our country, which I don’t really understand, but I guess people give too much importance of their closed ones, considering that they are dead. Never understood why the dead deserve respect, they are too dead to care. Respect usually go hand by hand with fear, so i guess it has something to do with the fear of death and not that much with the deceased.