Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Bulgarians mark Cherry All Souls' Day

Photo: BGNES

Every year on Saturday before the great Christian holiday of Pentecost, the Church marks the second All Souls' Day of the year, which the people call Cherry All Souls' Day because it always coincides with cherry harvest season.

In the calendar of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, All Souls' Day is celebrated on the Saturdays before Great Lent, before Pentecost and before Archangel's Day (November 8).

In every Orthodox church in the country, a liturgy and a memorial service are held, during which the priests read the names of deceased relatives of the people present.


 It is a custom on this day for people to visit the graves of their deceased loved ones to clean them and decorate them with flowers. Then, they pour water and red wine over the dirt in memory of Christ's sacrifice for us and light a church candle.

It is also a tradition to pass boiled wheat, bread, wine, cherries and other foods to as many people as possible who say "May God forgive the dead”.

On All Souls' Day, believers do not do housework and direct their prayers and thoughts towards the spiritual salvation of the deceased.

Photos: BGNES, BTA



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.

More from category

The Naval Academy in Varna has marked its 144th anniversary

The Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy in Varna has marked 144 years since its founding. A period in which the educational institution has followed the trends for highly specialized training of specialists in various professional fields..

published on 1/11/25 7:55 AM

Serenity, light and spirituality: St Petka Monastery in winter

Quiet among the Lyulin Mountain slopes, the Klisura Monastery of St. Petka is marked by mystery and radiates spirituality. It is located only 7 km from the resort town of Bankya, near the village of Klisura. Winter is the time when the holy monastery..

published on 1/8/25 3:48 PM
The folk custom

Ivanovden is among the favorite winter holidays

Today, The Bulgarian Orthodox Church honors the memory of Saint John the Baptist, also known as Saint John the Forerunner, because he prepared people for the coming of the Savior. The day dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, known in Bulgaria as..

published on 1/7/25 6:05 AM