December 4 is the church holiday of the Holy Great Martyr Barbara, celebrated by both Orthodoxy and Catholicism. Barbara was a girl from a noble family, beheaded for her Christian faith at the beginning of the 4th century. There is a belief that from Varvara to Ignatius the day "rises" like a needle's tip. It also "rises" from Ignacius to Vasil (from December 20 to January 1). On Varvara, day and night meet and become equal. The holiday is also called Varvaritsa, Varvarinden or Women's Christmas.
In traditional representations, Varvara is the patroness of children's diseases, and above all, smallpox, called by our people by taboo names: grandmother, aunt, sweet and honeyed. An evil, toothless and ugly grandmother - the image of the disease "paints" Varvara's portrait as well. In order to propitiate Baba Sharka (grandma Smallpox) and divert her from the children, the women prepared a ritual stew in which they put various wheat and bean seeds. They call it "varvara". Sweetened with honey, this stew is given to children, and also to neighbors and relatives. There is a belief that throughout the day the children should jump so that Varvara does not find them.
Over 1000 people, keepers of Bulgarian spirit and traditions, gather in Balchik on the Black Sea from 21 to 24 September for the International Folklore Festival "Sea of Rhythms". The festival will feature live performances by singers and dancers..
The town of Vidin (Northwestern Bulgaria) hosts the Blue Danube International Folklore Festival for the fourth consecutive year. The event takes place in the Danube Park and continues until Sunday, September 3. The festival‘s mission is to..
More than 3,500 people will take part at the 17th National Thracian Folklore Festival " Bogorodichna Stapka " in the resort village of Starozagorski Bani, Stara Zagora region . The official opening is at 11:00 am today. The National..
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