St. George’s Day

May 6 is known as St. George’s Day and is among the most revered Bulgarian spring holidays. Some folk songs say that it is “more personal than Easter.” On this day the Orthodox Church celebrates the great martyr St. George the Victorious. He is a patron of the Bulgarian army, so May 6 is celebrated as the Day of Courage and the Bulgarian Army and is an official holiday for our country.

St. George was born in Cappadocia, Asia Minor. Due to his military abilities he was awarded the rank of tribune. The saint zealously preached the Christian faith and was therefore imprisoned and slaughtered in 305. A dragon settled near his tomb, ravaging the area, ruling the waters and demanding human sacrifice every day to release them to the people. When it was the king’s daughter’s turn, St. George killed the dragon with his spear and saved her. That is why the saint is revered as the first serpent fighter in Christianity. In the icons you can see him armed with a spear and riding a white horse, and the pierced dragon writhes at his feet.

St. George is one of the most revered saints in our country. He is the patron saint of shepherds, fields, flocks and vegetation. The celebration of St. George’s Day is associated with many and varied rites and customs, and we will tell you about the most famous of them.

Early in the morning of St. George’s Day, even before sunrise, women, girls and children pick spring flowers and medicinal herbs from which they make wreaths and wrists. They decorate the windows and doors of the houses with wreaths, and tie the wrists to the milk boilers, the nights and the roast lamb. Green branches are also placed on children’s blankets.

It is believed that on the eve of St. George’s Day vegetation and water give health and fertility. That is why it is customary for everyone to roll in the dewy meadows early in the morning, to bathe in rivers and springs. In order for the girls’ hair to grow long and healthy, they wash it with rainwater collected on St. George’s Day.

The summer grazing begins with St. George’s Day. Early in the morning the herds are ritually taken out for the first green grazing, and the animals are driven with a green stick. Shepherds ritually milk the first milk in a cauldron decorated with herbs and flowers tied with red thread to protect the sheep from lessons. Milking is done through a silver bridal bracelet or St. George’s cake. The first expressed milk is traditionally distributed to relatives.

The summer grazing begins with St. George’s Day. Early in the morning the herds are ritually taken out for the first green grazing, and the animals are driven with a green stick. Shepherds ritually milk the first milk in a cauldron decorated with herbs and flowers tied with red thread to protect the sheep from lessons. Milking is done through a silver bridal bracelet or St. George’s cake. The first expressed milk is traditionally distributed to relatives.