Current News
Things to Know
Introduction To Bulgaria
The Cyrillic Alphabet & Bulgarian Language
Currency Information
Travel Tips
Bulgarian Food & Cuisine
Beauty in the past of Bulgaria
Bulgarian Music
Photo Galleries
Figures of Plovdiv
History of Plovdiv
Cultural Heritage
Traditions & NameDays
Home
»
Current News
»
ST. PROCOPIUS, the Bee-Keeper
Current News
Current News
ST. PROCOPIUS, the Bee-Keeper
7/8/2024 9:00:00 AM
Name day of everyone named Prokopi.
According to traditional beliefs, St. Procopius (in BG, St. Prokopi) is connected to the bee-keeping – hence his name. Early in the morning, bee-keepers’ wives bake two ritual loaves of bread so that bees would gather lots of honey. Before sunrise they take those loaves to the bee hives, burn incense and coat them in honey. Then they all go to the church service, carrying a bow of honey, which they leave for a night inside the church and take home the next day. That honey is believed to have unique healing abilities.
A ram is ritually slaughtered at a sacred place outside the village and then a large table is set for everybody to join. On this day every woman is supposed to makes a “grass bread” (a ritual bread with the image of a bee-hive). The popular concept is that the hive holds the bee family together and therefore this bread is given away only to relatives - to be healthy and to live long. No one is supposed to throw water among the bee-hives, especially “night water”. The story goes that once upon a time a woman, coming back from the fields, prepared the dough and kneaded it. She put it in the pan and threw it into the oven. While preparing the dinner, it became dark.
So she threw out the water from the trough right into the yard on the grass. They went to sleep and in the morning her hands became red, swollen and covered with white blisters. They took her to a medicine man and he said that she must have thrown out “night water” on the fairies and her hands will dry up. Everybody has remembered ever since that used water is never thrown out during the night. People put three coals in it and keep it at home until morning comes.
That day the Orthodox Church celebrates the Day of Holy Martyr Procopius, who died in great suffering for the Christian faith, being severely tortured by the order of the Emperor Diocletian in 303.
Anniversary of the birth of Dr Obreiko Obreikov (1891 - 1969), the founder of the Plovdiv Fair
6/17/2024 9:00:00 AM
Born on June 17, 1891 in Plovdiv, Dr. Obreikov comes from an eminent Bulgarian Revival period family.
VIDOVDEN (Vido’s day) - June 15
6/15/2024 9:00:00 AM
That day is the feast of the last one of the hail-men family - sometimes interpreted as a brother, Vido, sometimes as a syster - Vida.
ELISSEY feastday (Liseh’s Day; St.Eliseus) - June 14
6/14/2024 9:00:00 AM
The traditional feast of Eliseus (also called Ellisey, Lisseh, Lisso or Lissey) is one of the thunder-maker feasts, alongside with German and Bartholomew.
Today is SPASSOVDEN
6/13/2024 10:00:00 AM
SPASSOVDEN (always on Thursday, 40 Days after Easter - “Ascension Day” or “Ascension of the Lord”): The great feast called the Spassovden or Ascension Day is connected to the eternal human wish for health and joy. The feast is a non-fixed one, and it is celebrated 40 days after Easter, always on Thursday.
VARTOLOMEY (St Bartholomew’s Day) - June 11
6/11/2024 11:00:00 AM
The feast is called Vartolomey or also Varti-Lomi (in association of storm and hail).
Today we celebrate "The Day of Botev and All Freedom Fighters Who Lost Their Lives for the Independence of Bulgaria"
6/2/2024 8:00:00 AM
That day has been appointed by a decree of the Ministerial Council dated May 31st 1993. It was first celebrated back in 1884 in Vratsa and Plovdiv.
Bulgaria marks the International children’s day
6/1/2024 9:00:00 AM
Bulgaria marks the International children's day: June 1st. Festive celebrations, theatrical performances and concerts for the young ones are organized throughout the country.
Bulgarian Literacy and Culture Celebration Day - May 24th
5/24/2024 9:00:00 AM
Ever since the earliest Bulgarian manuscript books (preserved until today), we can trace the tradition to honor the two saint brothers - St Cyril (on February 14th) and St Methodius (on April 6th) ...
St.St.Constantine and Helena Feast
5/21/2024 8:00:00 AM
May 21st is celebrated in Bulgaria as the church feast of St. St.Constatine and Helena.
Orthodox Christians mark Toma’s Sunday
5/12/2024 8:00:00 AM
Orthodox Christians mark Toma’s Sunday
<
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
…
439
440
>