In traditional Bulgarian notions, Mother of God is loving, flawless and compassionate. Sometimes she carries severe punishment and can even resort to revenge – unlike her portrayal in gospels where she is described as humble and benevolent receiving in an equal way both deprivation and earthly blessings. The Holy Virgin is not cross with anybody who offends her and she is the mentor of the faithful in every good act.

The greatest feast dedicated to Virgin Mary is 15 August, the day of her Assumption (falling asleep) when she left the earthly world. Three days before that, while she was praying, Archangel Gabriel appeared to her. He told her that her spirit would go into heaven. Before she died she wished to see all apostles again. In a miraculous way they moved to the gates of her home in Jerusalem. She was buried in a grotto near to the Gethsemane. Similar to the Son of God she resurrected on the third day.

The worship for Virgin Mary in Bulgarian folklore is associated with the belief that she has the power to protect humans from evil spirits, heal the worst diseases and bring back to worthy life even those hopelessly sick. Especially deep is her relationship with the family hearth, and childbirth – she is the supreme protector of both the mother and child, and is of great help to childless women who want to have a baby. Even today many people spend the night in churches and monasteries on the eve of The Assumption hoping to get miraculous cure or to pray for the child they long for. August 15 is mostly a day for women who are still going to have babies. On this day they should not work but must go to church. They take there various gifts and place them under the icon of Virgin Mary – home-woven cloths, embroidered tablecloths, aprons and flowers. During the morning service the first fruits gathered from the fields and gardens are blessed, as well as bread made from new dough, and in some regions also white cheese. After that women give away food servings for the sake of health of those alive and to commemorate the dead. The Assumption is preceded by a 15-day fasting, so on 15 August a festive table is laid.

Churches named after Virgin Mary (in Bulgarian the name used is Bogoroditsa) and the icons depicting Mother of God are the object of deep veneration. There are a few localities and even roads related to legends about her protection, guidance and healing power. Faith in her ability to cure disease is reflected in the names of certain herbs. One example is Bogorodiche (lesser calamint). This herb has seven varieties applied for various conditions. It is picked in the interval between The Assumption (15 August) and The Nativity of Virgin Mary (8 September). Women would pick it as they went out to work in the fields, and left it to its roots. On their way back they gathered the herbs to make posies and wreaths at home. The first bunch was left aside and would be brought to church three weeks after The Assumption. After being blessed by the priest in church the healing powers of the herb were believed to increase many times. In folk medicine the lesser calamint was used to treat female disorders. One of the varieties of the lesser calamint was applied to children against scare and to relieve various cardiovascular conditions.

Bogorodichna lazhichka (Virgin Mary’s Spoon) is another name for the bogbean. To this day it is used to treat both humans and animals. In some regions of the country lady's bedstraw has wide application and is named after Virgin Mary. Its yellow petals are used to make a wonderful herbal infusion that has a nice honey taste. There are other herbs in folk medicine named after Virgin Mary. For example the famous herbs thyme, St. John's wort and greater celandine that have been acknowledged by official medicine have the same common name in Bulgarian folklore – Virgin Mary’s grass.

In folklore Virgin Mary’s kindness reaches people through springs and fountains. Illuminated by her heavenly touch, they have ceased to be mere sources of water and assume miraculous quality. According to the legend, Mary drank water somewhere, bathed baby Jesus elsewhere etc., thus leaving her blessing. And like a real mother – loving and forgiving, she gives her kind and generous support to all – both the righteous and the sinful.

English version: Daniela Konstantinova

The audio file contains the following songs:

Bogoriditsa (Virgin Mary), performed by Svetoglas vocal group

More, brala moma (Girl Went out Picking Fruit), performed by Desislava Dimcheva

Blazhim tia, Bogoriditsa  (We Celebrate Thou, Virgin Mary), performed by Daniela Spasov and Milen Ivanov