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

Christians mark Day of St. Sylvester

Photo: library

On January 2, Christians pay honor to Saint Sylvester - Pope of Rome, who officially baptized Emperor Constantine I the Great.

According to popular beliefs, Saint Sylvester is considered the patron saint of animals. In Bulgaria the holiday is also called Karamanovden, Silvestri, Silvestrovden. In folk traditions the day is associated with paying respect to cattle - cows, oxen, etc.

On this day, people clean the barns and dump the manure that hasn't been thrown away since Christmas. On the night before the holiday young men who were carolers on Christmas Eve are once again divided into groups - this time to visit and bless the homes of farmers who have cattle.

On this day, people named Sylvester, Silvia, Silvana, Seraphim, Goran, and Goritsa also celebrate.




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

Archaeologists have discovered intriguing finds in the Kavatsi area near Sozopol

Archaeologists have explored a necropolis in the Kavatsi area near Sozopol. The perimeter in which it is located is part of the history of Apollonia Pontica and is dated to the 4th century BC. "This is a site with interesting burials in which a nuance..

published on 11/10/24 10:05 AM
Dr. Petar Beron

Dr. Petar Beron speaks about the first steps of the Bulgarian transition and democracy today

On November 10, 1989, at a plenum of the Central Committee of the Bulgarian Communist Party, Todor Zhivkov was removed from the position of General Secretary - the highest position in the party and the state. What happened at the..

published on 11/10/24 6:45 AM
Photo: National Archaeological Reserve Deultum - Debelt

A bottle featuring an image of the myth of the Chimera monster discovered in a 2nd-century Roman necropolis

Archaeologists have discovered a very rare and valuable glass bottle in a 2nd-century tomb in the southern necropolis of the Roman colony Deultum near the village of Debelt (Southeastern Bulgaria). What makes it unique is that it depicts the myth of..

published on 11/9/24 6:55 AM