ПРОГРАМИ
en de ru fr es sr gr al tr ro
Podcast in English
Share
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Residents of Karaisen celebrate Ivanovden with authentic ritual for chasing away evil

4
Photo: Zdravka Maslyankova, BNR correspondent

With an authentic ritual that has no analogue in Bulgaria, the residents of the village of Karaisen, Northern Bulgaria, celebrate St. John's Day (Ivanovden in Bulgarian). The holiday is called "Ivanovi Vlachugi" (dragging, pulling on Saint John's Day) and has been passed down since time immemorial, and today it is kept by the local village residents, reports BNR correspondent in Veliko Tarnovo Zdravka Maslyankova. 

The name of the ritual comes from the pulling to the water fountain of persons with the name Ivan, maidens and bachelors, as well as all young people who have become families in the previous year. In Karaisen, people believe that "Ivanovi vlachugi" cleanse bad energy and drive away evil, bring health and prosperity to the entire village.

According to museologist Diana Miteva, this tradition comes from the conversion of the Bulgarians to Christianity, which began in 864, because when people were baptized, they were dragged, as it was a forced process. 

The ritual is marked every year. In the past, it was very popular in the entire Veliko Tarnovo region.

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.
Radio Bulgaria Life    Christianity Ivanovden Ivanovi vlachugi Saint John's Day Veliko Tarnovo

Gallery

More from category

Las Vegas Mayor, Ms. Shelley Berkeley, has declared May 24th as Bulgarian Culture Day in the city with a proclamation

Mayor of Las Vegas honors celebrations of Bulgarians in Nevada for Day of Bulgarian Culture

For yet another year, Bulgarians in Las Vegas gathered on the eve of May 24 to dedicate a special day to Bulgarian language, culture, cuisine, and traditions. “For the first time, the Mayor of Las Vegas personally attended the Bulgarian festival..

published on 5/19/25 12:24 PM

A Bulgarian Parade was held in Chicago to mark the Day of Bulgarian Culture

A parade dedicated to May 24 - the Day of Bulgarian Letters, Education and Culture was held in Chicago for the fourth consecutive year , BGNES and BNT reported. The event was organized by the Elk Grove Village City Hall and the Consulate General of..

published on 5/19/25 9:33 AM

The Banitsa Festival kicks off in the village of Banitsa

Over 100 master chefs are set to take part in this year's Festival of the Banitsa, which is held today in the village of Banitsa in the Vratsa region. The event starts at 11 am at the local community centre, 'Svetlina 1910'. What is the taste of..

published on 5/17/25 7:05 AM

WEATHER
Pick city: Sofía
Partly cloudy, chance of rain
Min: 9 | Max: 22
Clear
Min: 15 | Max: 21
Clear
Min: 13 | Max: 20
Partly Cloudy
Min: 10 | Max: 24
Partly Cloudy
Min: 10 | Max: 23
Partly cloudy, chance of rain
Min: 11 | Max: 23
Partly cloudy, chance of rain
Min: 8 | Max: 20
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 10 | Max: 19
Partly cloudy, chance of rain
Min: 9 | Max: 23
Partly cloudy, chance of rain
Min: 8 | Max: 22
Partly cloudy, chance of rain
Min: 10 | Max: 22
Partly Cloudy
Min: 10 | Max: 24
Partly Cloudy
Min: 10 | Max: 24
Partly Cloudy
Min: 6 | Max: 19
Partly Cloudy
Min: 11 | Max: 24
Partly Cloudy
Min: 14 | Max: 25
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 9 | Max: 21
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 10 | Max: 23
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 11 | Max: 21
Partly Cloudy
Min: 13 | Max: 22
Partly cloudy, chance of rain
Min: 8 | Max: 17
Partly Cloudy
Min: 7 | Max: 21
Partly Cloudy
Min: 11 | Max: 24
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 10 | Max: 20
Partly Cloudy
Min: 14 | Max: 25
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 12 | Max: 21
Partly Cloudy
Min: 11 | Max: 23
BULGARIA IN PICTURES
Which world-famous Bulgarian artist designed QSL cards for Radio Bulgaria?
Yasen Gyuzelev
Theodore Ushev
Christo Javacheff - Christo
Ilia Peikov
Lika Yanko

BULGARIANS ABROAD

Български English Русский Deutsch Српски Français Ελληνικά Español Shqip Türkçe Română
MOST VIEWED

A Bulgarian Parade was held in Chicago to mark the Day of Bulgarian Culture

A parade dedicated to May 24 - the Day of Bulgarian Letters, Education and Culture was held in Chicago for the fourth consecutive year , BGNES and BNT..

published on 5/19/25 9:33 AM

Mayor of Las Vegas honors celebrations of Bulgarians in Nevada for Day of Bulgarian Culture

For yet another year, Bulgarians in Las Vegas gathered on the eve of May 24 to dedicate a special day to Bulgarian language, culture, cuisine, and..

published on 5/19/25 12:24 PM

english@bnr.bg

+359 2 9336 661

Общи условия за използване на сайта | Политика за поверителност | Политика за "бисквитки"