ПРОГРАМИ
en de ru fr es sr gr al tr ro
Podcast in English
Share
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Arife - the day when Muslims prepare for Eid

Photo: grandmufti.bg

Today is once again the day of Arife, which precedes every Bayram, no matter whether it is Ramadan or Eid.

Muslims today pay tribute to their deceased loved ones, with women in every home kneading dough, which is made into Mekitsi (Bulgarian fried dough breakfast) and handed out to relatives and neighbours, regardless of their religion or faith.


The significance of this day is closely linked to the preparation of the sacrificial animal to be offered on the following day - Eid - as an expression of gratitude to God. It is essential that the animal - be it a sheep, goat, cow, calf or camel - is healthy.

It is believed that on the Day of Judgement, this animal will meet man on the bridge that spans Hell and leads to Heaven. If the kurban is accepted by the Almighty and the man has lived righteously, he will confidently ride the animal and it will take him to Paradise.


So on this day the sacrificial animal is prepared for the feast. To make it look beautiful, the lady of the house paints its forehead, back and tail with henna.

In some villages in Bulgaria, on the day before Eid, the fiancé sends a ram to his fiancée's house, painted with henna and decorated with ribbons and a gold coin. 


One of the most important aspects of the Bayram Kurban is its distribution, which emphasises sharing. The meat of the animal is divided into three parts: one portion is kept for the family, another for relatives and friends, and the third is given to the poor, regardless of their religion or beliefs, ensuring that everyone can share in the feast.


In certain villages in the regions of Kardzhali, Burgas and Silistra, a tradition known as the "distribution of sweets" takes place on Arife Day. Adults gather in the village square and hand out sweets to children, who line up one by one to receive a handful of sweets.

Photos: grandmufti.bg, BNR - Kardzhali
Translated and posted by Elizabeth Radkova

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.
Radio Bulgaria History and religion    arife bayram muslim tradition

More from category

Photo: Bulgarica Center

152 years of immortality... The personality of Vasil Levski continues to unite Bulgarians abroad

152 years after Bulgaria lost its beloved son and advocate for a free, independent and tolerant state – Vasil Levski, his personality continues to excite and inspire Bulgarians from all generations. Scholars continue to study the work of the Apostle..

published on 2/19/25 12:58 PM

Levski's notebook is a whole universe revealing many faces of the Apostle of Freedom

Vasil Levski is a Bulgarian revolutionary and national hero who fought for the Liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman Empire. He is an ideologist, founder and organizer of the Internal Revolutionary Organization, for which grateful..

published on 2/18/25 10:20 AM

The Bulgarian church of Saint Ivan Rilski will open in London on February 22

Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil will celebrate the first liturgy in London for the consecration of the new church of the Bulgarian Orthodox community in the British capital - the church of Saint Ivan Rilski. T he church is part of the Bulgarian Embassy..

published on 2/17/25 11:21 AM

WEATHER
Pick city: Sofía
Partly Cloudy
Min: -10 | Max: -1
Partly Cloudy
Min: -6 | Max: 0
Partly Cloudy
Min: -5 | Max: 0
Clear
Min: -11 | Max: -1
Partly Cloudy
Min: -10 | Max: -1
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -12 | Max: -3
Partly Cloudy
Min: -13 | Max: -4
Partly Cloudy
Min: -20 | Max: -5
Partly Cloudy
Min: -5 | Max: -1
Partly Cloudy
Min: -12 | Max: -1
Partly Cloudy
Min: -13 | Max: -1
Clear
Min: -9 | Max: -2
Partly Cloudy
Min: -8 | Max: 2
Partly Cloudy
Min: -14 | Max: -2
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -13 | Max: -1
Partly Cloudy
Min: -6 | Max: 3
Partly Cloudy
Min: -12 | Max: -5
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -12 | Max: -6
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -6 | Max: -5
Partly Cloudy
Min: -7 | Max: 1
Partly Cloudy
Min: -13 | Max: -6
Partly Cloudy
Min: -13 | Max: -3
Partly Cloudy
Min: -8 | Max: -2
Partly Cloudy
Min: -14 | Max: -6
Partly Cloudy
Min: -4 | Max: -1
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -13 | Max: -5
Partly Cloudy
Min: -10 | Max: -3
BULGARIA IN PICTURES
Which world-famous Bulgarian artist designed QSL cards for Radio Bulgaria?
Yasen Gyuzelev
Theodore Ushev
Christo Javacheff - Christo
Ilia Peikov
Lika Yanko

BULGARIANS ABROAD

Български English Русский Deutsch Српски Français Ελληνικά Español Shqip Türkçe Română
MOST VIEWED

152 years of immortality... The personality of Vasil Levski continues to unite Bulgarians abroad

152 years after Bulgaria lost its beloved son and advocate for a free, independent and tolerant state – Vasil Levski, his personality continues to excite..

published on 2/19/25 12:58 PM

english@bnr.bg

+359 2 9336 661

Общи условия за използване на сайта | Политика за поверителност | Политика за "бисквитки"