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

Wine - a breath of love and the past

Photo: BGNES

While the Western world today pays homage to St. Valentine, in Bulgaria we have the opportunity to make a choice in our festive mood and raise a toast to our love of …wine.

Grapes and wine are very closely related to the folk beliefs and customs of Bulgarians. The red elixir is part and parcel of Bulgarians traditions related to all important events in a person's life path - from birth, wedding to death. That is why the ritual which marks the beginning of the cutting of the vineyards and their preparation for the next harvest is still practiced today in all parts of this country.

The first pruning of the vines is done on the day when we honour St. Tryphon. And although today the Orthodox Church does this on February 1st, the majority of people continue to celebrate the date of February 14th in the old style calendar as the Feast of Vine and Wine known here as Trifon Zarezan (Trifon the Pruner).

You can read more about the traditional notions of wine in Bulgarian folklore, the holidays related to wine and the prohibitions related to the cycle of its production in the publication "Fifty heroes are drinking wine" from Radio Bulgaria’s Best collection.

Edited by Vesela Krasteva

English version Rositsa Petcova



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

Celebrating the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in “The Seven Thrones” Monastery

On September 8, when the Bulgarian Orthodox Church celebrates the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Nativity of the Holy Theotokos), we take a look at the beautiful valley of Gabrovnitsa River and the Monastery of the Holy Theotokos, better..

published on 9/8/22 1:41 PM

Shipka Peak is synonymous with Bulgaria and its freedom

Bulgaria is celebrating 145 years of the Shipka Peak epopee - the heroic six-day epic battle in which the native defenders proved that freedom is not a gift, but was won with the blood and sacrifice of thousands of Bulgarians. The Balkan peak of Saint..

published on 8/20/22 5:35 AM

The White Brotherhood dances with the sun on the Seven Rila Lakes

Hundreds of people in white, lined up in a concentric circles, dancing and welcoming the rising sun - this unforgettable sight will be witnessed by everyone who visits the Seven Rila Lakes on August 19. The ritual is called Paneurhythmy and through it..

published on 8/19/22 6:00 AM