On St. Athanasius Day: “Go away, winter, so summer can come!”

published on 1/18/18 12:51 PM] БНР Новини

Photo: BGNES

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church pays respect to the memory of St. Athanasius the Great two times a year - on May 2 ( the day of his death) and on January 18, when his last return as Patriarch of Alexandria took place. On January 18 people traditionally celebrate Atanasovden, also called Tanasovden, Winter St. Tanas, or Midwinter.

In some regions of the country people used to believe that plague was born on this day and in order to protect themselves from the disease they sacrificed a black hen. They made a dish out of it and gave others from it along with ritual bread. A popular custom is giving others freshly-baked small loaves of bread spread with honey, with a stem of basil stuck in the middle. Women do not work on this day, nor do they cook beans or lentils.

“Tanas Elenki dumashe” performed by Velichka Zlateva

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According to traditional Bulgarian folk views, St. Athanasius is the ruler of winter. When six brave brothers used to share the rule of heaven and earth, the responsibility for winter frosts and snow fell on Atanas. On his feast day, the saint puts on a silk shirt and goes to the mountain where he shouts: “Go away, winter, so summer can come!” When winter hears these words she starts preparing to leave, while summer starts his way towards replacing her. That is why on Atanasovden the transition from winter to summer starts, according to folk beliefs. On this date, joint village celebrations are also organized and family services are held in honor of the patron saint of the family, house and farm.

“Atanas sabira, tragnuva” performed by Dafina Kasabova and “Strandzhanski Ensemble” Orchestra

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According to a legend, Atanas and his brother Anton (whose holiday is on January 17) were blacksmiths. One day they were working in their shop and their dog was laying on the floor. They put iron in the furnace and when it was hot enough, they did not have anything to use to take the metal out. Then Atanas took two metal rods and decided to use them. He saw the dog and the way it kept its front paws. The blacksmith gave the same shape to the metal sticks, pinned them to one another and pulled out the iron from the furnace. This way the forging pliers were invented.

The two brothers are considered protectors of blacksmiths, knife makers and ironmongers, who celebrate their professional holiday on January 17 and 18. St. Athanasius is also considered patron of sworn brothers and that is why such rituals are performed on Atanasovden, especially in Southeastern Bulgaria. People bearing the names of Atanas, Atanaska, Nasko, Naska and so on celebrate on this day.

English: Alexander Markov

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On St. Athanasius Day: “Go away, winter, so summer can come!”

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