Saint Trifon’s Day

Saint Trifon’s Day

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“Let Saint Trifon bring us luck and prosperity”- this is part of the blessing spoken by people on Saint Trifon’s Day. The ritual was once performed on February 14th. Today the religious feast with which it is connected is marked on 1 February.

The folk feast is called Saint Trifon's Day, or Trifon the Pruner, Trifon the Drunkard because of its close connection to wine. The rituals performed are work-related. They are connected with the cultivation of vines - on this day men do the first "pruning" of the vines, hence the name The Pruner. According to the old agricultural calendar, the formerly used date is more appropriate. For this reason, in most places in Bulgaria people ritually prune the vineyards on 14 February, which funnily coincides in Bulgaria with Saint Valentine’s day, but that’s another topic.

On this religious holiday dedicated to St. Trifon who accepted martyrdom in the name of his Christian faith, a special prayer is read in Orthodox churches. In it, the laymen are metaphorically called the “Vineyard of God" and the text of the prayer continues with begging for "grace to fall on each vine" – i.e. on each member of the community. In some churches, such as in the Bachkovo monastery, a special prayer against pests is read. After the church service, people go home with a small vessel of holy water.

From the early twentieth century, the day of Saint Trifon on January 1st was celebrated with litany processions with the icon of St. Trifon. People used to walk around the village and vineyards, which are usually outside it. In some places, even the priest was the first to prune the vines and sprayed them with holy water. It should be noted that proper pruning is done a month later - sometime in March when the spring sun moves the vital juices of plants. The pruning, which is performed on Saint Trifon’s day, is symbolic. It marks the beginning of the year for vine growers and wine makers.
After the festive church service, groups of men set off for the vineyards. Each was carrying bread, wine, a baked chicken and other traditional dishes that would later be placed at the common table as the sharing of food and wine are required at the feast. Before starting the pruning, the farmers turned to the east, making the sign of the cross and cut off one or more rods. They watered the roots with wine and holy water. Around noon, they gathered for the feast. Before it, they chose the "king of the vines." His title of "king" would remain until the next year’s Trifon Zarezan. The king was chosen to be a good man, an experienced farmer with a large and happy family, and a wealthy and lucky man at that. Because the qualities of the "king" would be transmitted to all vine growers this year. If he was successful in life and in his work during his so-called "reign", he was to have a big harvest. He was also believed to be blessed with favorable weather - there would be no hail or drought that year. Usually, the oldest man took a bunch of basil, which are three vines are interwoven, and said: "Whoever is happy, let him take the bunch and be king!" The rest invited the chosen one to accept the bunch and later the "royal crown" made from the vines.

In some places, the ritual pruning involved two men and then a real folklore theater was at play. Blessings were uttered with the belief that the words would become a reality. Only on this day was wine pouring down without any restrictions. On each table there had a wooden vessel with wine in which vines were placed. At the end of the feast, everyone carried a pot of wine and the merry revellers went to the village. They paid visits to all the houses where they were treated to wine by people. The “king” was constantly sprinkled with the intoxicating liquid. "As the wine pours, so the vines may grow" – everybody kept saying. The generous pouring of wine and the presence of vine in the rituals associate this pagan rite with the ancient Thracian festivities in honor of Dionysus - the god of wine.

The name Trifon the Pruner comes from a legend spread throughout the country. Saint Trifon, who was the brother of Virgin Mary according to this legend, went to prune his vines. His sister passed near him with the infant Jesus in her arms. He mocked at her for going to church to pray and yet having given birth to a child claiming to be a virgin. For this offense he was punished – while he was pruning the vines, he cut his nose with the pruning shears. A curious fact is that in iconographic images in Bulgaria St. Trifon is invariably portrayed with pruning shears in hand.

Even today, Saint Trifon's Day celebration is one of the funniest and best-loved holidays in this country. Despite regional differences, it is among the most popular folk customs. Each year, the fans of folk traditions gladly repeat old practices preserved from time immemorial.

Translated by Rossitsa Petcova

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Saint Trifon’s Day

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