Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Measures against Covid-19 cannot stop Epiphany ice horo dance in Kalofer

Photo: BTA

In the town of Kalofer, the traditional men's horo dance in the Tundzha River on Epiphany was held once again despite the anti-epidemic measures. Led by a bagpiper and a drummer, men in traditional folk costumes went to the waters of the river early in the morning.

"The holiday is something of a symbol and relic for our town. This ritual is for health!" Mayor Rumen Stoyanov has told the Horizont program of the BNR. "I take responsibility and I can be fined," the mayor added. He is also a traditional participant in the ritual, but in 2021 he did not take part in the icy dance because of his official position.

The mayor said that he could not stop the ritual and the strong faith of the citizens of Kalofer and added that even the communist regime before 1989 had failed to break the tradition.

Because of the "male horo dance", the mayor of Kalofer Rumen Stoyanov has been fined with a penalty of 1,000 leva (511 euro) for non-compliance with the anti-epidemic measures currently in force in Bulgaria.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Sunshine, rising daytime temperatures expected on Monday

On Monday the weather will be mostly sunny, in the afternoon there will be scattered high clouds. Almost quiet weather is expected. Minimum temperatures will be mainly between minus 3°C and 2°C, slightly lower in the valleys of western Bulgaria, in..

published on 11/24/24 6:15 PM
Rumen Radev in Vietnam

President Radev meets with Vietnamese citizens who studied and worked in Bulgaria during his Vietnam visit

Rumen Radev's visit to Vietnam began with a meeting with the community of Vietnamese citizens who have studied and worked in Bulgaria - representatives of the Vietnam-Bulgaria Friendship Association. Hundreds of Vietnamese citizens are members of the..

published on 11/24/24 5:00 PM
MP Nadezhda Yordanova from PP-DB

PP-DB MP Yordanova: There is no agreement with GERB for a governing majority and posts

The deputy from "We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria" Nadezhda Yordanova has denied the information that an agreement was reached with GERB - SDS for the formation of a governing majority , on the basis of which Atanas Atanasov from the..

published on 11/24/24 4:01 PM