Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Traditional male dance in the icy waters of Tundzha River to take place on Epiphany

Traditional male dance in Kalofer on Epiphany (archive)
Photo: REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov

This year, as always, hundreds of brave men from the town of Kalofer and the whole country will embark on January 6 - Epiphany - in a men's dance in the icy waters of the Tundzha River. It is believed that anyone who enters the cold water of Epiphany will be healthy throughout the year. 

The ritual men's dance will begin at 4:30 a.m. with a solemn Divine Liturgy in the local church St. Archangel Michael. After that, everyone will head to the river in a procession, reports BNR correspondent Daniela Dobreva. 


The throwing of the cross into the water is scheduled for 8 a.m. According to local custom, the savior of the cross gives it to the youngest child participating in the ritual. After that, the men will dance a traditional round dance in the cold waters of the river.



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

Bulgaria prepares to participate in the Three Seas Initiative Summit

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev had a telephone conversation with Polish President Andrzej Duda ahead of the upcoming Three Seas Initiative Summit in Warsaw. Radev highlighted the importance and potential of bilateral industrial cooperation, including..

published on 4/24/25 8:50 AM

BIA unveils annual index of economic policy effectiveness

For the second year in a row, the Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA) will today present its "Effectiveness of Economic Policy" index. The index identifies specific weaknesses in Bulgaria's economic policies that, if addressed, could improve the..

published on 4/24/25 7:35 AM

Warm weather with brief showers in the afternoon.

On Thursday lows will be between 7 and 12°C, 9°C in Sofia.  Before noon it will be sunny. Around and after midday, cumulus clouds will develop and there will be brief showers in the western parts of the country. Maximum temperatures will be between 22..

published on 4/23/25 7:05 PM