In traditional Bulgarian culture fire plays an important role – not only in patriarchal life but also as part of many rituals and feasts. According to popular belief fire had the magical power to purify and to protect, to keep sickness and evil spirits at bay.
Spring fires are part of the tradition on Cheesefare Sunday which falls on the last Sunday before the start of Lent. Most often they were big bonfires, lit at dusk on high ground around the villages. Children and adults would leap over them – for health and to keep fleas away. It was believed that there would be no hail in summer in the places lit up by the light of Cheesefare Sunday fires.
Find out more about fire in traditional Bulgarian culture HERE
Compiled by Albena Bezovska
Photos : BGNES
On September 11, 1930, in the village of Tvarditsa, Burgas region, Nikola Stanchev Nikolov was born. A freestyle and classical wrestler, in 1956 he won the first Olympic gold medal in freestyle wrestling in the 79 kg category in Melbourne..
On September 8, when the Bulgarian Orthodox Church celebrates the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Nativity of the Holy Theotokos), we take a look at the beautiful valley of Gabrovnitsa River and the Monastery of the Holy Theotokos, better..
It was 1883 when construction began in Plovdiv on the building of the Regional Assembly of Eastern Rumelia, based on a design by architect Pietro Montani. Eastern Rumelia was an autonomous Bulgarian province within the Ottoman Empire and one of the..
sunshine, cloud, rain and thunder
Mostly Cloudy
Partly cloudy, chance of rain
Overcast, rain
Partly Cloudy