Ederlezi (song)
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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"Ederlezi" is a popular traditional folk song of the Romani minority in the Balkans.
The song got its name after Ederlezi (otherwise known as Đurđevdan (Ђурђевдан) in Serbian, sometimes transcribed as Djurdjevdan) which is a Spring festival, especially celebrated by Roma people around the former Yugoslavia (and elsewhere around the world), regardless of religious affiliation. This holiday celebrates the return of springtime.
Ederlezi has been used for the movie Time of the Gypsies by Emir Kusturica, in Goran Bregović's version, which actually made the song famous. The song also appeared in the movie Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, although it has no connection to the authentic music of Kazakhstan, as Ederlezi (Scena Djurdjevdana Na Rijeci). The text in the brackets means, in Serbian: The scene of Djurdjevdan on the river - that is a description of the movie scene of Djurdjevdan celebration on a river in the movie Time of the Gypsies where that song was used. Sacha Baron Cohen's movie doesn't have a Djurdjevdan river scene. The song title (and description) was taken from Kusturica's movie soundtrack. In both soundtrack albums – Time of the Gypsies and Stereophonic Musical Listenings That Have Been Origin in Moving Film "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" – it was credited to Goran Bregović, although he is not the author nor the singer of the song on these albums. However, he is the arranger of the song. Bregović also recorded a version with Polish lyrics, titled Nie ma, nie ma ciebie, together with Polish singer Kayah.
The former Yugoslav rock band Bijelo Dugme released a cover version of this song in Serbian under the title Đurđevdan je a ja nisam s onom koju volim which is featured on their album Ćiribiribela from 1988. There is also another song's version made by Kroke.
Ederlezi is the Gypsy name for the Serbian Feast of Saint George. It's celebrated on the 6th of May. The various Balkan spellings (Herdeljez, Erdelezi) are variants of the Turkish Hıdırellez, a holiday signaling the beginning of spring, occurring approximately 40 days after the spring equinox. The Balkan Slavs added the Christian layer of St George's Day (Đurđevdan, Gjuorguovdan, Dz^urdz^ovden, Gergjuovden).
Hidrellez is a very significant day in Anatolia. The word itself is very significant; it is the combination of names of two prophets: Hizir & Ilyas. Hidrellez signifies a rebirth of nature and is also considered to be the beginning of spring. According to Anatolian people's beliefs Hizir and Ilyas are two prophets who drank the water of never-dying; they are brothers and friends. They have given each other promise to meet on this night of May 5th every year to give rebirth to nature. Hizir is the protector of plants; he gives life to plants. He helps poor people. Wherever he goes, he brings abundance. Ilyas is the protector of waters and according to some, the protector of animals. Wherever he goes, animals become healthier.
People believe that wishes made on this night will become true. They also believe sick people will become healthier and it will be the end of bad-luck and misfortunes.
There are also a lot of rituals that people perform. Some people put a coin inside a red cloth and then hang it on a rose branch. In the morning this money is put into the wallet so that it will bring abundance. It is also believed that if you go out, have a picnic and be in nature on this day, your days in winter will have less hardships.
Most city people know this day simply as a picnic day.
