Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Ancient vine-growing customs and beliefs intertwine on the day of Orthodox Saint Trifon

St Trifon’s Day (also known in Bulgaria as Trifon Zarezan) is an Orthodox feast which honors Saint Trifon. It is marked by the Bulgarian Orthodox Church on February 1 (new style). In Bulgaria’s folklore calendar the feast is marked on three consecutive days called Trifontsi- February 1, 2 and 3. Trifon Zarezan is the feast of Bulgarian viticulturists, falconers, gardeners and tavern-keepers. Some people celebrate the feast on February 1, but most Bulgarians mark Trifon Zarezan on February 14 (old style). In ethnographic researches Saint Trifon is compared with ancient gods such as Dionysius, Sabasios, Bacchus, etc. Saint Trifon is popular in other Balkan countries as well. In Orthodox calendar the feast is associated with the transition from winter to spring. Many carnival games connected with the awakening nature and gods, who decide whether the year will be fruitful or not, are held during this period. According to a Serbian manuscript dating back to the 16th-17th century AD, people must light icon-lamps, sprinkle the sown fields with holy water and read the prayer of Saint Triphon on this day to prevent the crops and the vineyards from pests. According to Bulgarian folklore tradition, on this day men should go to the vineyards, carrying wooden wine vessels (filled with red wine) and ritual bread. They prune the vines and pour red wine on them. The ritual food consists of pita bread decorated with doughy figures in the shape of a vine leaf, grape cluster, cheese, bacon, pickled vegetables, flat sausage, etc.

Photo: archive


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.

Gallery

More from category

Memorial on Tsarevets hill in Veliko Tarnovo where the independence of Bulgaria was proclaimed

On 22 September 1908 Bulgaria gained its independence

The independence of Bulgaria was proclaimed on 22 September, 1908. After the most audacious independent act in Bulgarian history – the unification of Eastern Rumelia with the Principality of Bulgaria – Bulgarians once again demonstrated the power of..

published on 9/22/24 7:05 AM

Archaeologists unearth another Roman statue in Heraclea Sintica

Bulgarian archaeologists have discovered a second statue in the large sewage channel of the ancient city of Heraclea Sintica. Around 11 a.m. on September 20, the team led by Professor Dr. Lyudmil Vagalinski came across another marble sculpture near..

published on 9/20/24 12:07 PM

The Feast of the Cross is celebrated on September 14

The Orthodox Church celebrates the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The holiday celebrates the miraculous finding of the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. It is one of the 12 major Christian holidays of the year.  When the cross..

published on 9/14/24 10:20 AM