"When there is a fault, there is forgiveness" is an old Bulgarian saying. In our folk customs there are days when giving forgiveness for all wrongdoings is obligatory. The most important among them is today's Forgiveness Day, also called Sirnitsa or Sirni Zagovezni (Cheesefare Sunday).
On the last Sunday before the beginning of Lent, younger people should ask for and receive forgiveness from their parents, godparents, best men, i.e. people from whom they receive help and support throughout the year. In the evening, before the family sits around the table, the ritual of forgiveness is performed again. "God forgive!" You are forgiven!" Once the spirit of reconciliation has reigned, the festive dinner follows.
Tradition dictates to eat eggs, cheese, butter, and other dairy products all day long on Easter Sunday because they are all excluded from the menu the very next day when Easter fasting begins.
After dinner follows the most fun ritual for children - "hamkane". A red woolen thread is tied over the table at the end of which an egg, cheese or white halva is attached. The thread is then swung and everyone present tries to catch the things tied to it with their mouths only. The belief is that whoever manages to catch the treat first will enjoy good health and good luck throughout the year.
Compilation: Vesela Krusteva
English: Elizabeth Radkova
Photos: BGNES
The goreshtnitsi – dog days, the hottest days of summer in Bulgaria fall on 15, 16 and 17 July. Their roots go back to pagan times and are connected with the cult of fire. The tradition of goreshtnitsi is observed mostly in Northern and..
Did you know that in the Moldovan capital Chisinau there is a street named after Hristo Botev? Located about three kilometers from the city center, there stands an impressive monument to the Bulgarian poet, revolutionary and public figure, who died in..
When we have a special occasion where we meet relatives or friends, as a sign of respect and as a memory, we usually present them with a gift, complete with a beautiful card. In the past, the card received was kept as a cherished memory and even passed..
Clear
Partly Cloudy