Name day of everyone named Atanas, Atanaska (although they rather celebrate on January 18th of each year). The feast is also known as Harvester and In Summer – a feast connected to the opening of the harvest time in the mountain regions.
The belief is that on that day St. Atanasius “takes off his winter fur coat and visits God to ask for winter to come, since the summer has already reached its half.” The harvest is usually started by the oldest and most able harvester. In some parts of the country votive offering of an animal is performed. The women give away freshly-baked bread in hope for “rain and rich crop”. In the western parts, St. Atanasius is honored as the patron saint of the ploughmen. The Orthodox Church celebrates the Day of St. Atanasius the Great, born in the town of Trapesund and living in the 10th c. Devoted to the Christian faith, he left for Mount Athos and live the life of a hermit there. After his death, he was canonized as a saint by the Orthodox Church.