Bulgarians Festivals

The month of March, according to Bulgarian folk belief, marks the beginning of the springtime. Therefore the 1st day of March is a traditional holiday associated with sending off the winter and welcoming the spring.

In Bulgarian folklore Grandma Marta is a grumpy old woman who changes her mood very rapidly and it reflects in the changeable March weather. When she is smiling, the weather is sunny and warm, but if she gets angry, the cold will stay for longer. By wearing the red and white colors of the Martenitsa our predecessors asked Grandma Marta (Baba Marta) for mercy. They hoped that it will make winter pass faster and bring spring.

Martenitsa is always given as a gift. We wear it on our clothes, around the wrist or the neck until we see a stork or a swallow , returning from migration. Then we hang it on a blossoming tree or a bush, or put under a stone.

The Martenitsa is made of twined red and white threads - woollen, silk, or cotton. The white is a symbol of strength, purity and happiness. The red is associated with health, blood and fertility.

Easter traditions in Bulgaria are a derivative of the Eastern Orthodox Church rituals. Easter is one of the most significant holidays in Bulgarian calendar and starting with Palm Sunday, the holy week leads up to the Great Day.

In Bulgaria we traditionally dye eggs red, symbolizing the blood and passion of Christ. Bright coloured eggs and Easter bread, called “kozunak” are the symbols of Easter in Bulgaria.

Children and adults in Bulgaria like playing an egg cracking game on Easter .They try to crack their eggs against their friend's egg; the last person with an uncracked egg is considered the lucky one.

EASTER AT SCHOOL

The ritual is mainly performed on the Day of St. Konstantin and St. Elena - June 3. In the past the nestinari used to be only women. It was believed that their barefoot dancing over the fire expiated for the sins of all village members. The ritual is an unique mixture of Eastern Orthodox beliefs and older pagan traditions from the Strandzha Mountains.

On the day of the holiday, early in the morning, a holy mass is served and all the village people gather at the square, where a young man brings out from the church the icon of St. Konstantin and St. Elena. People believe that the water, springing beneath St. Konstantin’s chapel, is healing and miraculous on the day of the holiday. People wash the icons with it, drink from it, wash their faces for health.

After sunset, people build up a large fire and dance a traditional dance, called horo, until the fire dies and only embers remain. The Nestinari's barefoot dance on embers follows - as the climax of the night. You can hear the beat of the sacred drum and the sound of a bagpipe.

Lazarovden is celebrated on the last Saturday before Easter. There are two main elements of the holiday - the tradition called lazaruvane and the rituals for the dead. Lasses and girls take part in lazaruvane. They start preraring before the fast starts and make groups according to their age. A lass that does not take part in the lazaruvane cannot get married.

There are singers in the groups and one of the girls carries an egg-basket. The only gifts that the girls get are white eggs. On Saturday afternoon and on Sunday before noon the girls go around the village, enter in every house and sing songs to each family member. There is a different song for the lass, the lad, the girl, the child, the host, the shepherd, the ploughman, etc.   

Our students from 5th and 7th grade are presenting the traditions of Lazaruvane

Kukeri is a traditional Bulgarian ritual to scare away evil spirits.The ritual is performed mainly by men.

They wear scary masks and large copper bells on the belts. Around New Year and before Lent, the kukeri walk and dance through the village to scare away the evil spirits, as well as to provide a good harvest, health, and happiness to the village during the year.

Done by Emilia Jordanova,

Sliven, Bulgariaemijo@abv.bg