Seasonality of Births and Marriages among Bessarabian Bulgarians in the 19th and Early 20th Centuries

Abstract

The article looks at the seasonality of birth and marriage rates among the Bulgarian population in Bessarabia in the nineteenth – early twentieth centuries. The authors argue that the transition from traditional to modern models of reproduction is accompanied by a transformation in the religious identity of Bulgarians. The work demonstrates that starting a family with children becomes more secular and not as dependent on the practices of the church calendar taboos. The main determinants of marriage and birth seasonality are the mechanisms of migration and further adaptation to new conditions. The calculations reveal the levelling and relative uniformity in the distribution of births through the months of the year. These trends highlight the transition from the traditional to the modern model. The dependence on religious factors is gradually weakening while the agricultural work cycle becomes dominant. It evidences the pronounced secularization of the worldview and social practices.