In Chinese astrology, 28 January 2017 gave the start to the Year of Yin Fire Rooster and until 15 February 2018 the world will be living under the sign of the red fowl.

In this edition of Folk Studio we feature the image of the rooster in Bulgarian folklore and reveals rites and daily practices involving it.

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In traditional notions of Bulgarians the rooster is one of the solar symbols. It is associated with fire and the sun - it not only heralds daybreak but all parts of the day and night are likened to the biological clock of the rooster. Intervals right before daybreak are denoted with the phrases „rooster time” or „first cock-crow”. The transition from sunset to the first cock-crow is a destructive interval - a time when various creatures like bugbears, vampires and goblinsemerge in the darkness, as well as other terrifying mythological beings. As the rooster crows early in the morning, they lose power. In exorcism practices the disease would be banished to „desolate forests, where no rooster crows“ - i.e. the rooster is present in space conquered by human activity and protected from evil forces. The behavior of roosters serves as a reference point in folklore predictions and meteorology.  If the rooster crows at the threshold, a guest should be expected. In such cases the housewife should say: “Crow, rooster, crow! If he is a good guest, crow again!” Then, if the cock crows again, this means the guest will be really good. If roosters crow in the evening, the weather will go wrong - with either rain in the summer or snow in the winter.

The rooster is a popular symbol of both masculinity, fertility and reproductive femininity. The custom of sacrificing a rooster on Rooster Day has been interpreted by scholars as a way to promote male fertility. The wedding rooster though is a symbol with a handful of meanings. The red color places it in line with the notion of masculinity. Feminine semantics is added to it when the friends of the bride decorate the rooster as if it is a horse. Also, the ornament of the rooster in traditional embroidery is quite common - it is often seen in women's shirts. It was believed that the feathers and the rooster tail had the power to protect from evil eyes, black magic and evil spirits. No wonder then that these were among the favorite adornments of girls.

Rooster Day has a few names in Bulgarian folklore: Petlyovden, Petelovden, Petelarovden, Eftim and Ihtima. It is a fete celebrated mostly in the Eastern Bulgarian ethnic territory. Researchers agree that the feast has ancient Slavic origins. It is marked on 20 January according to the Julian Calendar , and on 2 February in the Gregorian Calendar. On 2 February the Orthodox Church marks the Presentation in the Temple (Candlemas), and commemorates St. Euthimius of Tarnovo. The sacrifice of a rooster is a ritual for health and fertility of boys. After it is over, the rooster is cooked for votive offering. There are different ways to cook it: with rice, manna croup, etc. but it is important to boil the fowl. In some regions of Bulgaria the festival includes honoring midwives. In this celebration women gather for dinner and adorn themselves with feathers from the rooster tail, as well as with strings of red peppers and flowers.

Rooster Day is a day to cook leek pasty. In some villages of Bulgaria the sacrificial bird is a pullet, female symbolism dominates and practices are targeted at little girls. The most sustainable part of celebrations includes merrymaking, singing, dancing chain dances and serving plenty of food. At richly laid tables both hosts and guests honor the day dedicated to boys and their future ability of progenation.

English Daniela Konstantinova