Podcast in English
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.

Gallery

More from category

Library in Yambol launches Let's Read for Bulgaria Campaign

On the occasion of the upcoming National Holiday - March 3 and 147 years since the Liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman rule, the Regional Library in the city of Yambol is conducting the campaign "Let's Read for Bulgaria". The goal is..

published on 2/9/25 8:05 AM

Sofia Airport Aviation Training Center to train specialists from all over the world

The Aviation Training Center at Sofia Airport has received accreditation from the Airports Council International (ACI) and joins the elite group of 21 training hubs, including those at leading European airports such as Munich,..

published on 2/8/25 7:05 AM

Authentic costumes from the film "Captain Petko Voyvoda" are exhibited in Varna

The Museum of the Bulgarian National Revival in Varna presents a collection of 15 authentic folk costumes from the collection of the Historical Museum in the town of Popovo. The valuable costumes are from the regions of Elhovo,..

published on 2/8/25 6:45 AM