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.
For more than 20 years in the city of Montana, there has been a tradition on January 6 for people to go to Montanenzium Park, where there is an artificial lake, suitable for conducting the Orthodox Christian ritual called "Saving the Holy Cross" on the..
The Orthodox church marks the day of Saint Sylvester today. A Roman Pope, who lived in the 3rd-4th century, and who, according to legend baptized Emperor Constantine I the Great and converted him to Christianity. In folklore belief, Saint Sylvester is..
In Yambol, a large Christmas carolling festival is traditionally organized on December 25, in which dozens of caroling groups (koledari) sing and dance. Only in Yambol the carollers not only sing and bless, but also dance. The Yambol Christmas..
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