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

A dragon wedding and sparkling wine tasting on Trifon Zarezan festival in the village of Delchevo

Photo: BGNES - archive

After a two-year break, the traditional Trifon Zarezan wine festival is organized again in the village of Delchevo. 
On Saturday 4 February, dozens of wine and brandy producers are welcome to the village at the foot of Pirin Mountain, to present their best selection. Wine makers from the Greek region of Drama are also coming back to the take part in the winemaker competition.The culmination of the feast is on 5 February /Sunday/, when everyone goes to the vineyard in the Bair ("the hill") area to take part in the ritual first pruning of the vines, after which the vines are ceremonially watered with wine
The big celebration takes place in the village square of Delchevo. Kukeri ethnographic groups from the nearby village of Mosomishte perform, but the most interesting part is the reenactment of the local dragon (zmey) weddingKukeri
An ancient legend says that the village of Delchevo was the lair of a zmey who took the most beautiful maiden of the village as his wife, in exchange for which he protected the village from evil forces and the elements.  To this day, Delchevo keeps the legend alive and twice a year recreates the story of the dragon and the beautiful bride.




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

Olaf Scholz, Maroš Šefčovič

Balkan developments

Lithium imports from Serbia will help EU reduce dependence on China German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and European Commission Vice-President in charge of energy Maroš Šefčovič will visit Belgrade on July 19 to sign an agreement between the EU and..

published on 7/19/24 3:45 PM

Wildfires, people, body politic…

Heatwave, strong winds, wildfires… This is the reality in Bulgaria these past few days. Houses burnt to ashes, farm and wild animals, the harvest destroyed, nature devastated. And the human suffering in the wake of the fire. Interior..

updated on 7/19/24 10:54 AM
The monument of Vasil Levski in Karlovo.

Bulgaria celebrates 187th birth anniversary of national hero Vasil Levski

Self-sacrifice, honesty, courage and a strong belief in Bulgaria's right to national freedom and dignity: these are the characteristics of one of Bulgaria's most beloved national heroes - Vasil Levski, the Apostle of Freedom.  The 187th anniversary of..

published on 7/18/24 6:20 AM