Share

Text size

Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Day of Saint Sylvester or Karamanovden

published on 1/2/24 10:48 AM

Photo: archive

The Orthodox church marks the day of Saint Sylvester today. A Roman Pope, who lived in the 3rd-4th century, and who, according to legend baptized Emperor Constantine I the Great and converted him to Christianity.

In folklore belief, Saint Sylvester is the patron saint of animals, and more specifically cattle. The feast day is also known as Karamanovden, Ox Day, Sylvestri. Rituals on this day are connected with cleansing – cleaning out the manure from the stables which have not been cleaned since Christmas. On the night before Karamanovden, the young men who went carol singing at Christmas, now make the rounds of the houses in the village where there is cattle and draft animals in twos or threes.

In the region of the Western Rhodopes the day goes by the name of Spolezov, and, similar to the tradition on St. Ignatius Day, Ignazhden (20 December), it is very important who the first person entering the home will be. The guest should be a good person and wealthy so the year will be good and prosperous. The meal on this day should not include pork or bacon – it is believed this will keep the farm animals healthy.

Find out more about the traditions, rituals and songs connected with this day:

Day of St. Sylvester – folk customs and beliefs

On our part, we would like to wish a happy name day to all people called Sylvester, Sylvia, Silvana, Seraphim, Goran, Goritsa!

Editing by Elena Karkalanova

Translated and posted by Milena Daynova

Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!

Radio Bulgaria Folklore cattle farm animals Karamanovden Saint Sylvester

More from category

"Lazaruvane" - a rite symbolising a girl's "coming of age".

Lazarus Saturday is widely known in Bulgaria as Lazarovden , celebrated by Orthodox Bulgarians on the day before Palm Sunday. The main rite is the lazaruvane - a traditional custom centred on themes of love and marriage. Girls over the age of 16,..

published on 4/12/25 7:30 AM

In the afternoon, the girls will also visit the Etara Architectural and Ethnographic Complex near the nearby town of Gabrovo.

St Lazarus Day celebrated with traditional lazaruvane in Tryavna

The historic town of Tryavna will celebrate St Lazarus' Day, traditionally held on the Saturday before Palm Sunday. The Bulgarian custom, known as lazaruvane , is closely linked to the themes of love and marriage and will be re-enacted this..

published on 4/11/25 4:50 PM

The cuckoo calls for the first time, animals awaken from their winter sleep on Blagovets

The feast of the Annunciation (Blagoveshtenie in Bulgaria) is a holy day , a symbol of God’s infinite mercy to people and especially to women, blessed to bear new life, but also an embodiment of the eternal human longing for something better in the..

published on 3/25/25 11:05 AM

1
2
3
4
5
6
..
10

WEATHER

Pick city: Sofía

Occasional showers
Min: 7 | Max: 14

BULGARIA IN PICTURES

Which world-famous Bulgarian artist designed QSL cards for Radio Bulgaria?

shopify analytics ecommerce
tracking