Spring Festivals and Celebrations

Pre-Lenthen Pre-Lenthen FestivalsFestivals

Sirni ZagovezniSirni Zagovezni,,or Shrove or Shrove Sunday, isSunday, is also also knowknownn as the day of as the day of forgiveness ("Proshka"). forgiveness ("Proshka").

In the Christian orthodox tradition In the Christian orthodox tradition it is the day after which starts the it is the day after which starts the fasting before Easter. fasting before Easter. It is also a day connected with the It is also a day connected with the pagan celebrations of the ending of pagan celebrations of the ending of the winter and beginning of the the winter and beginning of the spring. Fires are lit and mummers spring. Fires are lit and mummers dance in the streets to scare the dance in the streets to scare the devil.devil.It is also the day of forgiveness.It is also the day of forgiveness.

Originally a custom for young Originally a custom for young members of the family to ask for members of the family to ask for forgiveness their parents and forgiveness their parents and grandparents, nowadays it has grandparents, nowadays it has turned into a day for everyone to ask turned into a day for everyone to ask their closest people to forgive them their closest people to forgive them for anything they might have done for anything they might have done wrong during the past yearwrong during the past year..

Building a fire• In old days, one of the most

typical features of Sirni Zagovezni was the building of large bonfires in the hills surrounding towns and villages

• Young and old would gather around the bonfire where they apologize to each other, forgive and forget the small wrongs and old quarrels in the name of friendship and mutual understanding

• The young men would jump over the fire "for health". It was believed that the one who jumped farthest would be the first to get married in the forthcoming autumn.

At Shrove Sunday, right from the very dawn, a Koukeri band starts its walk around everybody’s home. By means of various symbolic and ritual-magic actions, they are wishing health, land fertility and prosperity to the hosts.

The dance of those masked men sends away evil forces by the ringing of the Koukeri bells.

Arrow Fling and Arrow Fling and “Hamkane”“Hamkane”

In some parts of the country the young men would fling In some parts of the country the young men would fling burning wooden arrows. burning wooden arrows.

This was done from the surrounding hilltops, for the arrows had This was done from the surrounding hilltops, for the arrows had to fall exactly in the yards they were directed at .to fall exactly in the yards they were directed at .

Each arrow was dedicated to someone, mostly to young ladies Each arrow was dedicated to someone, mostly to young ladies becausebecause the arrows were a sign of love. The girl who the arrows were a sign of love. The girl who

collected the largest number of arrows was considered to bcollected the largest number of arrows was considered to be e the most beautiful and desirable in the village.the most beautiful and desirable in the village.

The popular ritual of The popular ritual of “hamkane”“hamkane” is performed that night – a is performed that night – a peeled boiled egg, a piece of halva or a coal is tied to a piece of peeled boiled egg, a piece of halva or a coal is tied to a piece of thread hanging from a long pole. Then the thread is moved thread hanging from a long pole. Then the thread is moved around in large circles and everyone around the feast table around in large circles and everyone around the feast table (especially the younger kids) is trying to catch it with mouth (especially the younger kids) is trying to catch it with mouth only (no use of hands is allowed) only (no use of hands is allowed)

The one who catches the first will care for home, the second The one who catches the first will care for home, the second one will be lucky throughout the year, the third one will live one will be lucky throughout the year, the third one will live longest. Then thelongest. Then the hostess hostess burn burnss the thread, naming and the thread, naming and divining which harvest will be richestdivining which harvest will be richest..

Forgiveness Day –”Sirni Zagovezni”The last day of Cheesefare Week is called "Forgiveness

Sunday", indicating the desire for God's forgiveness that lies

at the heart of Great Lent. *****

The day following Cheesefare Sunday is called Clean

Monday, because everyone has confessed their sins,

asked for forgiveness, and begin Great Lent “clean”!

Todor’s Day – Horse Easter

The most interesting element of the holiday is the horse racing - a custom in which the whole village participates. The men clean their horses, adorn their reins with colorful beads

The winner in the race is awarded – the horse receives new reins and its owner a new shirt or towel. Then the rider mounts his horse again and visits all houses in the village to greet the hosts for the holiday. He is received with joy and his horse is offered water.

The Annunciation BlagovetsIn folk beliefs on this day

cuckoos and swallows come flying and notify summer's

coming. On this day everybody wants to

be satisfied and to be in cash because in folk beliefs if you hear cuckoo's singing and if you have money, the whole

year will be successful to you. People believe that if weather

is good on the Annunciation, then the year will be fertile.

The Name Day of everyone named Blagovest, Blagovestà,

Blagovesta, Blagoy, Blaga, Vangel, Evangelina, Bonka.

LazarovdenSaturday is Lazarovden (Lazar's

Day) - a festival devoted to young girls, pastures, fields and

woods. It is celebrated each year on the 8th

day (last Saturday) before Easter with typical ceremonies

called Lazaruvane.Only young girls can take part in

the ritual. The girls gather in groups of about

ten at the house of the prettiest one and start from there with their songs to go around the

village. Legend says that health, wealth

and love will reign in the house that the girls visit.

It remains one of the best-loved and known traditions in Bulgaria.

Tsvetnitsa / Tsvetnitsa / VrabnitsaVrabnitsa Palm Sunday is called Palm Sunday is called TsventisaTsventisa or or

VrabnitsaVrabnitsa in Bulgaria. in Bulgaria. The Bulgarian The Bulgarian Orthodox Orthodox tradition is tradition is

to carry flowers and willow to carry flowers and willow branches, rather than palm leavesbranches, rather than palm leaves. . PPeople wind them into small crowns eople wind them into small crowns and and put on the heads of the put on the heads of the children for health and blessing.children for health and blessing.

TThe day is also regarded as the he day is also regarded as the holiday of the fholiday of the flowers and treeslowers and trees..

On Tsvetnitsa-Vrabnitsa all those On Tsvetnitsa-Vrabnitsa all those named after named after flowers, plants or flowers, plants or trees celebrate their name daytrees celebrate their name day..

Early in the morning the young girls Early in the morning the young girls who have been ‘lazarki’ on the who have been ‘lazarki’ on the previous day go to the nearest riverprevious day go to the nearest river andand floatsfloats a a wreath made of willowwreath made of willow branchesbranches or spring flowersor spring flowers. The girl . The girl whose whose wreath wreath outsails those of the outsails those of the others is pronounced for ‘kumitsaothers is pronounced for ‘kumitsa’.

EasteEasterr Easter is one of the most Easter is one of the most

significant holidays in significant holidays in the Bulgarian calendar. the Bulgarian calendar. Starting with Palm Sunday, Starting with Palm Sunday, the holy week leads up to the the holy week leads up to the Great DayGreat Day. .

In the country, the festival is In the country, the festival is popularly known as popularly known as ""Velikden",Velikden", which literally means which literally means “the faith in the“the faith in the resurrection resurrection of Jesus Christof Jesus Christ””..

Bulgarian Easter Traditions

Bright red colored eggs and Easter breads known as "kolache" or "kozunak" are the prominent

symbols of Easter in Bulgaria. The top of the Bulgarian Easter bread is embedded with red and

white eggs, odd in number.The eggs are cracked after the midnight service and during the next days. This ritual takes place

before the Easter lunch. People take turns tapping the eggs

together and the person who ends up with the last unbroken egg is believed to have a year of good

luck, full of happiness and success!

What do decorated eggs symbolize?

The tradition of egg decorating for Easter goes

back to centuries.

They symbolize spring, renewal,

fertility, and eternity.

They are a sign of new life!

Bulgarian Easter Bread -  Kozunak • This Bulgarian Easter

bread, known as kozunak, is also served at Christmas and for other special occasions. It's a slightly sweet yeast-raised bread with raisins that crosses the line between bread and coffee cake.

“Ivan Vazov” Primary SchoolVidin, Bulgaria