Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

It is Enyovden (Midsummer)

Photo: BGNES-archive

Enyovden (Midsummer's Day) is one of the most beloved holidays in the folk calendar of Bulgarians, which has deep roots in our traditions, thinking, and beliefs. It has a fixed date - always it is marked on June 24. It is also called St. John of the Summer, because on the same date the Orthodox Church honours the birth of St. John the Baptist.

According to popular belief, on Midsummer's Day the path of the sun from winter to summer ends and it takes the opposite course - from summer to winter. And on the night before the holiday the skies open, the stars descend to the earth and enchant grasses and flowers, giving them a healing power. The waters are also granted , because the sun bathes for the last time before it sets. That is why even today, in the early morning of Midsummer's Day, people ritually bathe in rivers and lakes.


The holiday was once accompanied by special songs for every moment of the practiced rituals and ceremonies - from gathering herbs in the early morning, to the singing of folk songs and the cheerful youth jokes at dusk.

More about them in Radio Bulgaria’s Editor’s picks.




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

Thousands celebrate authentic folklore in the Balkan resort village of Ribaritsa

Folk costumes and customs from across the country will be presented at the Kostina Historical Site in Ribaritsa village.  The event will take place on 19 and 20 July as part of the Holiday of Folk Customs and Authentic Costumes . According to the..

published on 7/19/25 7:45 AM
Viktoria Basham, PhD researcher from the University of Salisbury

Vampires in Bulgarian folklore - protective rituals and precautions

Everyone in Bulgaria has heard scary stories about dangerous vampires since childhood. Today, these dark spirits are familiar to us mainly from the way they are recreated by the authors of novels and especially popular titles in the cinema. However, we..

published on 6/29/25 10:15 AM

Folklore Ensemble "Otets Paissii" from Pittsburgh receives the honorary badge of the President

A festive concert of the Otets Paissii Performing Folk Ensemble will be held in Nessebar today, as the ensemble celebrates 70 years since its establishment. The formation is the oldest Bulgarian folklore ensemble in the USA at the..

published on 6/21/25 10:15 AM