Šareni Čorapi “Multicolored Socks” is a folk song, often considered a children’s song, that is common throughout the southern Balkans (Greece, Bulgaria, Macedonia). During the roughly 500-year occupation of this area, Čorap, the Turkish word for socks, became the term used by local languages as well – Čorap in Macedonian, Čorap in Bulgarian, Ciorapi in Romanian, Čarape in Serbian, Tsourapi in Greek).
There are many sets of lyrics – most tell of a mother/grandmother who buys/knits colorful socks for her child/grandchild, and does/doesn’t let her wear them.
Here’s an example
The underlying meaning is best explained by the fellow below:
The song is in 9/8 time – 12,12,12,123, or Quick, Quick, Quick, Slow, – Q,Q,Q,S, but the dance consists of three sets of 4 steps each – 12 steps altogether – fit into three 9/8 measures (each Q,Q,Q,S,). I call this a T-12A variation of the Taproot Dance. For more on the Taproot Dance and its variations, click:_____
Northern Macedonians think of it as a children’s song & dance. It is perhaps the simplest dance in 9 beats we have.
For Greek Macedonians, Sareni Tsourapi is an all-ages dance
Here’s a group of Canadian (Slavic) Macedonians
And some Greek Macedonians performing
Some Greeks call it Pardala Tsourapia
Folkdance Footnotes 