TRANSFORMATION OF ETHNOCULTURAL TRADITIONS IN A MODERN FESTIVAL: «TRIFON ZAREZAN» IN BOLHRAD

Abstract

The study aims of this paper is to analyze the structural functional transformations of the «Trifon Zarezan» holiday in Ukrainian Bessarabia and to identify adaptation mechanisms used by Bulgarian diaspora to preserve cultural identity under modern challenges, including martial law. This research provides a theoretical and practical assessment of how this tradition holiday adapts within contemporary festival spaces. The author analyzes the preservation of authentic ritual elements, such as ritual pruning of the vine and the election of the «King of Trifon», within a public cultural event. Special attention is paid to the socio-cultural adaptation of the festival under martial law, highlighting its transition from a recreational event to a platform for social solidarity and charitable activity.
Research methodology is based on an interdisciplinary approach, combining historical-genetic analysis,
participant ethnographic observation, and corporative methods. A systems approach was used to view the holiday as a
dynamic structure evolving under the influence of globalization and local challenges.
Results of the study confirm that the festival serves as a vital mechanism for maintaining the ethnic identity of the Bulgarian diaspora and promoting regional cultural heritage. It is established that under contemporary conditions, the holiday transforms into a living instrument for the transmission of intangible cultural heritage, ensuring generational continuity. As a vital component of Bessarabia’s cultural landscape, «Trifon Zarezan» demonstrates the vitality of traditional practices that serve as a foundation for shaping a modern local identity and integrating local heritage into the broader European cultural context.
Novelty lies in the first-time analysis of the Bolhrad festival as a transformation of a traditional rite into a tool of «soft power» and cultural diplomacy during a crisis. The study substantiates the concept of «adaptive vitality» of the rite, which preserves the ethno-cultural code while acquiring new forms of social responsibility.