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 The signing of the San Stefano
Peace Treaty by hekate
3 March was celebrated for the first time way back in 1880 as the Day of the emperor Alexander II's coronation.
It was celebrated as the Day of the Liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman rule since 1888.
During the time of the communism it was celebrated once in 1978 thus marking 1 century from the liberation. 10 years later it becomes official holiday.
With a resolution of the Parliament passed on 5 March 1990, 3 March is promulgated to be national holiday. Thus, this day from then on is a non-working day.
This year in Sofia, the formal celebrations started with a ceremonial raising of the national flag and a 20-gun salute at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier marking the 127th anniversary since the country's Liberation.
As usual, the Bulgaria's President, who is also Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Bulgarian Armed Forces, attended the ceremony. Later in the evening the president takes the salute of the representative units of the Bulgarian Army and deliver a speech. Traditinaly it is done on the square in front of the Parliemant.
Ceremonies are held on March 3 in Bulgarian cities that boast victorious battles for Russian and Bulgarian soldiers in the 1877-1878 liberation war.
All over Bulgaria there are monuments erected in homage of those who contributed to Bulgaria's freedom, including Sofia's Doctors' Monument (engraved with the names of 531 Bulgarian and foreign medics who fell victims during the war), the Shipka Monument , the Tsar Osvoboditel Monument (portraying the Russian Emperor Alexander II on horseback).
What is it all about:
The war between Russia and Turkey in 1877-78 ended up with the defeat of Turkey and Bulgaria is liberation from a 5-century Turkish rule. The peace treaty was signed on 3 March 1878 in San Stefano near Tsarigrad. The treaty sanctioned the creation of an independent state and the re-union of the Bulgarians in Mysia, Thrakia and Macedonia. Leave a Comment
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 Icon of St. Dimitar by hekate
THE SAINT
This church holiday is in honor of the Holy Martyr Dimitar. His life tells that the Saint was born in the town of Thessaloniki. After the death of his father, Dimitar became a chief of town, accepted the Christian religion and started teaching the residents of Thessaloniki that they should not believe and pray to idols but that they should open their hearts to Jesus Christ. That was why emperor Maximillian ordered that Dimitar was thrown in a dungeon.
Even locked in prison, St. Dimitar continued spreading his faith among the people and because of that he was murdered – speared in the ribs. After some time, during the digging of a ditch, St. Dimitar’s holy remains, which radiated healing and fragrant “miro”, were discovered.
In the church songs St. Dimitar is glorified as a martyr, keeper of kings, man who disapproved wars and a harbor for those seeking help. These last images of St. Dimitar find their own place in the folklore rituals.
RITUALS
In the past it was the day when the farmers pay to the hired seasonal workers. It is also linked to the ritual fortune telling by the first guest. It is believed that if the first guests to get into the house are boys more male animals will be born. If the first to come is a good and wealthy man, than the year will be good, healthy and plentiful.
On the Day of St. Demetrius the farmers would check if the moon was full. If so, the beehives shall be full of honey and the pens – of lambs.
On this day the weddings and engagements start, the lassies play special “engagement” ring-dance so that the lads and their parents could notice them.
Elderly people say that St. Dimitar’s Day marks the beginning of autumn. St. Dimitar is considered to be the master of winter. There is a saying that the first snowflakes are said to fall from his white beard.
CUISINE
Typical for St. Dimitar’s Day are dishes with poultry and vegetables.
PEOPLE CELEBRATING ON THAT DAY
All those named Dimitar, Dimitrina, Mitko, Dimo. Leave a Comment
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 Martenitsi by hekate
The symbol of that day is the martenitsa. Here is the legend about it:
Khan Kubrat’s five sons went hunting accompanied by their sister Houba. During the hunting a bird flew to them bringing bad news. The founder of Great Bulgaria was on his death bed. In his last hours Kubrat wanted to bring home his sons - Bayan, Kotrag, Asparuh, Kuber and Altsek and make them promise to defend Bulgaria and stick together.
Soon after their father’s death, the Khazars invaded their lands. The Khazar`s Khan Ashiba conquered the capital Ababa, Houba, Kubrat`s daughter was taken prisoner Ashiba. Wishing to give her brothers a chance to opt for freedom, Houba tried to commit suicide but she was stopped bt the guards.
Her brothers kept their vows in different ways. Bayan stayed with his sister and recognized the supremacy of the Khazars. Kotrag went north, to the River Volga, while Asparuh, Kuber and Altsek went south to search for a land without oppressors.
They secretly arranged it with Houba to send her word by a white thread tied to the leg of a bird, whenever they were able to find a free land.
One day a falcon sent by Asparuh flew into Houba’s room. Bayan and Houba had decided to leave secretly. Just as they were looking for where to cross the Danube, pursuers spotted them. Trying to find a ford, Houba let the falcon free. She had tied a white thread to his leg and handed it to her brother.
When the bird was about to take off, an enemy arrow pierced Bayan and warm blood drops stained the white thread.
Nevertheless, both Bayan and Houba reached the land Asparuh had found. He welcomed his dying brother and his sister. He tore pieces of white-and-red stained thread and adorned his soldiers with them.
It is not polite to say no when someone wants to put martenitsa on you. You can see how my hand looked like at the end of the day :) Leave a Comment
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 The first flower I got
that day :) by hekate
Nevertheless, men who celebrate that day usually congratulate the ladies with the phrase Chestit Osmi Mart (Happy 8 March). They usually buy flowers to the ones that they respect and spoil with a nice dinner and a present the ones they love.
So, I ended up with a bunch of flowers when I left the office today, plus I had attended a party from a colleague of mine - a guy who invited all his female colleagues for a glass of wine at the end of the working day. I think it will become something like a tradition in our office because some girls liked the idea :)))
On the picture you see the white tulip I got from a colleague of mine :)
Good to know:
- Buying flowers on that particular day is an expensive pleasure. Usually a good rose would cost EUR 2 but on that day the prices could almost double.
- If you intend to go out for lunch or in the evening better make a reservation in advance. Usually everything is packed. Leave a Comment
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 Trifon Zarezan Celebration by hekate
I am not going to explain to you what it is all about when it comes to St. Valentine's day. I will just mention that in general it is a catholic tradition and we started celebrating it just several Years ago.
On the other hand, Trifon Zarezan is a long lasting tradition on Bulgarian lands. This traditional ritual marks the beginning of the new vinegrowing season.
Trifon’s Day also known as Trifon Zarezan, Zarezan’s Day, Trifun Chipia, Trifun Zarezoy and Trifun Drunkard, is the day of the vine-growers, tavern-keepers and gardeners, who are protected by the saint-healer Trifon.
Name day for:
Trifon, Trifonka
The legend:
According to the legend, Trifon Zarezan cut off his nose while pruning the vines in his vineyard. Since then, on this day, the villagers have been pruning back their vines believing that this act will bring them richer vintage.
The Saint:
the Orthodox Church celebrates and honors St. Trifon – one of the most glorified saint-healers, who lived in the III century AD. The 17 year-old Trifon healed the daughter of the Roman Emperor Gordian and in doing so gained great glory and respect.
Ceremonial table:
Biled chicken, baked flat sausages, omelet, freshly baked bread.
Good to know:
Since most of the Bulgarians are celebrating either St. Valentine or Trifon Zarezan or bboth if you are planning to go out to a pub or a restaurant on that day you would better make a reservation in advance. Otherwise your chances to find a place are close to zero.
Note:
The picture is not mine. I took it from the net :) Leave a Comment
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 Horse by hekate
The most interesting element of the holiday is the horse racing - a custom in which the whole village participates. The men clean their horses, adorn their reins with colorful beads, then put their new shirts on and take the horses out for the race.
The winner in the race is awarded – the horse receives new reins and its owner a new shirt or towel. Then the rider mounts his horse again and visits all houses in the village to greet the hosts for the holiday. He is received with joy and his horse is offered water.
Before sunrise the women make rite bread in the shape of a horse or a horseshoe and decorate them with walnuts, garlic and salt.
Every housewife visits her neighbors and gives them from the bread she has baked.
On Todor’s Day are performed different rites connected with the young brides in their first year of marriage.
In western Bulgaria, the just married young women go to church on Friday evening, wearing their wedding dresses. Their mothers-in-law who carry bowls full of boiled corn and ring-shaped cakes usually accompany them. The brides wait outside the church and the mothers-in-law enter inside, where the priest blesses the items they bring. On their way out they “kick” the brides. The blessed corn is spread over the gardens for rich harvest.
Very early on Todor’s Day the mothers bathe their children so that they are healthy. Before the horse race all women wash their hair with water mixed with straw from the horses’ riders. They throw the already used water in the street, behind the horses so that their hair is long and strong as the horse’s mane. Leave a Comment
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 Selling martenitsi by hekate
Who is Baba Marta (Grandma Marta)
Behind Mart (March) stands the mythical character of Baba Marta who personifies the spring. It is said that Baba Marta she is a limp old lady who changes her mood rapidly. She carries an iron stick to learn on and when she is smiling the sun is shining and when she was mad at somebody cold weather was firming the ground.
The tradition
The tradition is that on the 1st of March and the days after all people give to each other Martenitsi. The martenitsa is the most typical and unique Bulgarian tradition. Now the martenitsa symbolized new life, fertility, and spring. This holiday is for joy, health and long life.
People put them on their clothes or wrists and wish each other health and happiness with Chestita baba Marta (Happy Grandma Marta). Marta comes from the word for March (Mart) in Bulgarian.
Past and present
In ancient times matenitsa was accepted as a ritual sign - an amulet for protection from evil spirits. Nowadays, almost all these functions are forgotten and it symbolises the coming of the spring.
What is Martenitsa
Maybe you are wondering what is martenitsa - it is made out of red and white weaved threads. Sometimes decorated with blue beads or small golden coins.
What do you do with it once you have it on
Once we put martenitsa on our cloths or wrist, we wear them until we see a stork. After seeing the bird, we have to take away the martenitsa, cause the stork is showing us that the spring is already here. Some ties it on a fruit tree, thus giving the tree the health and luck that we had while having the martenitsa. Others are putting it under a stone.
Note
On the picture you see the street vendors selling the martentitsi to the people passing by on Slaveikov square :) Leave a Comment
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 Sirni Zagovezni - ritual fires
:) by hekate
According to Bulgarian traditions, family members are giving each other their forgiveness during a family dinner later that day. People use set phrases, such as “Forgive me, mother, ..father, ..” and “Let all be forgiven to you,.. God forgives” to ask and give their pardoning to their close ones.
The favourite part of that day for the kits is the popular ritual of “hamkane”. It is performed in the eve – a peeled boiled egg or a piece of white halva is tied to a piece of thread hanging from a long pole. Then the thread is moved around in large circles and everyone around the feast table (especially the younger kids) is trying to catch it with mouth only (no use of hands is allowed)… My grandmother was doing that for me and my cousins when we were kids :) It was fun until I was 10 years old. After that the ritual somehow lost its charm for me...
In the past the tradition connected to that day was the starting of feast fires. Right from the very dawn, a Koukeri band starts its walk around everybody’s home. By means of various symbolic and ritual-magic actions, they are wishing health, land fertility and prosperity to the hosts. The dance of those masked men brings blessing and land fertility. A Kouker young woman (also called “bride”) starts ploughing the field and calls fertility, health and good luck to come into people’s houses. But I have never seen it. I guess if someone wants to see this ritual, he or she should go to the smaller villages - I am talking to the Kukeri part.
It is still common to have the ritual fires. The idea is that at Shrove Sunday, the spirit gets purged by the forgiveness given and asked for, the body gets stronger if the person manages to jump over the fire, and the nature sends away evil forces. I had seen them but I was always afraid to try jump them over :)) Leave a Comment
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 Matenitsa by hekate
Usually the wars started at the beginning of March, and most of the warriors had to leave their homes.
Women were so unhappy, and afraid about the lives of their men. They were giving to their husbands red and white tokens, which were either red and white cloth strips for the hand, or small woollen figures of a white girl and a red boy.
The colours represent the blood of the warriors, which their wives didn't want spilled, and the white colour the pale faces of their women waiting for the warriors to come back home.
The exchange of these tokens was made for two reasons: the first one was to remind the men about their families and the second - to please Baba Marta, so she would not change her mood so friquently: in other words, so that the warriors would not have a lot of problems with the weather and die because of frost. Leave a Comment
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 St Theodore Stratilat
icon by hekate
Todor’s Day celebrates the health of horses and those young women who have married recently in the winter. I find this combination a bit funny but anyway...
Horse races are usually organized on Todor’s Day. I remember when I was a kid my grandfather used to take me to a village nearby Sofia to watch the races.
The saint
Theodore Stratilat as some other Christian saints like George, Mina, Demetrios, and Mina is almost exclusively portrayed as heroic horsemen – one of the knights of justice and good. The icon below is one of the exceptions of that rule.
Name day for:
Todor, Todorka, Teodor, Teodora, Bozhidar, Theo, Dora.
"Teodoros" comes from old Greek and means "a gift from God" which presumably meands that people having some of the above names are gifts from God which is not always the case :)
Ritual table:
rite bread, lentils, mushroom soup. Leave a Comment
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