The traditional feast of Eliseus (also called Ellisey, Lisseh, Lisso or Lissey) is one of the thunder-maker feasts, alongside with German and Bartholomew. In some parts of Bulgaria it is also connected to the “lisso”, i.e. baldness. Therefore, the young men put on “bald breads”, or light candles, collect herbs, pour herbal teas on themselves and bathe in left water (taken at a left turn of the river) or the tea is poured through the left sleeve of a coat. They believe that their hair will become curly and will never fall out.
According to the popular belief, Liseh is the third of hail-men brothers. He is the lord of the black hail clouds in summer and snow storms in winter. According to the ritual traditions, millet should be sown until the Feast of St. Eliseus.
St.Eliseus was an Old Testament prophet, the disciple and companion of St. Elias. When Elias, whose feast is July 20, was taken up in a fiery chariot, he let his cloak fall upon St. Eliseus, who then became his successor. Eliseus, seeing St. Elias’ ascent to heavens, took on part of his spirituality. That was how his visions started, and his prophesies usually depict successes and victories.