Andrew the Apostle, known in the Orthodox tradition as the First Called (Parvozvani) is among the most revered saints in Bulgaria and November 30 is a major holiday. According to researchers, the apostle preached Christianity in the lands of today’s Bulgaria during the 1st century. Bulgarians who moved moved to Italy in the 7th century also revered the saint.

On November 30, people named Andrei, Andreya, Andrian, Andriana, Parvan and others celebrate. In Greek Andrew means “brave, manly, valiant” and that is why people with the names of Hrabar, Hrabrin, Hrabrinka also celebrate on this day.

• St. Andrew’s Day: legends, beliefs, customs

According to folk traditions, St. Andrew's Day, gives the start of winter customs and rituals for health and fertility. On the eve of the holiday, women boiled different types of grain and in the morning they threw some grain up the chimney - so that the crops would grow high. The remaining grain is given to the family members. In many regions, the holiday is called Mechkinden (Bear’s Day), because of the belief that St. Andrew is patron of bears. In folk legends he succeeds in taming or defeating a bear and harnessing it to plough his fields.

•  Take this corncob, bear, but give us life and health: St. Andrew's Day beliefs and rituals

In the past, bear keepers used to visit the villages in the autumn. The animals performed their clumsy dance to the sounds of a song. People invited them into the yards of their houses because it was believed that this would bring thick snow and a good harvest. We offer you a unique authentic recording made at the beginning of the 20th century. The performance is by Georgi Stanev.