Today is Babinden, Granny’s or Midwives’ Day, a popular feast day celebrating the elderly women who once helped women give birth.
The day, once marked on 21 January, old style, has lost many of its rituals of old, such as the bathing of the baby by the granny, a lavish meal for the young brides at the granny’s house. After pouring out water for the granny to wash her hands in, the women would gift her with shirts, stockings and cloth. The granny on her part would tie a red and white thread to the wrist of the child.
Babinden falls on 21 January, old style, the date which was declared a day of natal care, obstetricians and gynecologists in 1951.
The day of St. Tryphon (1 February old style, 14 February new style) is celebrated by vine growers, falconers and gardeners in Bulgaria. Trifon Zarezan comes around with vine pruning and wine drinking St. Tryphon is believed to help..
All Bulgarian masquerade games originate from the ancient rituals related to the birth of the sun around Christmas. With the adoption of Christianity, in order not to defile the newborn God, the custom was blurred. In the western..
The Roma community in Bulgaria is celebrating Vasilyevden /or Vasilitsa, Bango Vasili (literally the Lame Vasil)/, also known as the Roma New Year , reports the Amalipe Foundation. The Roma New Year combining in its traditions Christmas with St...
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