Current News

Current News

SVETA BOGORODITSA (Holy Virgin Marys Day)

SVETA BOGORODITSA (Holy Virgin Marys Day)

8/15/2024 8:31:00 AM

The Orthodox Church names this day Dormition of the Theotokos, also known in Eastern Orthodox world as Assumption Day or Holy Virgin Mary's Day, celebrated on August 15 each year.

It is is a name day for everyone named Maria, Mariana, Mara, Marcho, Mario.































































Assumption Day is a great traditional feast. Votive offerings are made and sick people spend the night at "holy places" to gain health. A ritual bread, and the first picked and church-consecrated fruits of the season - water melons, grapes, honey - are given out for good health and richer harvest. The proverb says “Till Holy Virgin Mary’s Day straw turns into wheat, and after Virgin Mary’s Day – the wheat turns into straw!” - therefore good farmers should complete the threshing by Holy Virgin Mary's Day.































































Until then every house makes a threshing-floor in the yard and traditionally it is round - so that evil forces do not affect the house. In the middle they set up the pillar – a thick post to which they tie the horses during threshing. Then they bring the sheaves from the field and put an unmarried young woman in the first cart but watch that she is not in her monthly period so that thewheat should remain clean. The man of the house feeds the oxen with "sporniche" - a special herb used for fertility. The woman of the house throws water from the well in front of the cart with a bucket decorated with a bunch of sweet basil, tied with a red thread, for the wheat to flow like water on the threshingfloor.































































They grind the new wheat on Virgin Mary’s Day. They make ritual breads from that flour and it is believed that if rain falls on that day, the next year will be very prosperous. For the festive meal they kill an ewe, which is ritually fed and incensed, like the one at St. George’s Day. The liver of the animal is boiled and brought to the church to be sanctified. The meat is prepared on a spit on open fire, then the neighbors exchange meat and banitsa for health, saying: “Let Virgin Mary help you!”































































In some regions, the day is also celebrated for the health of the oxen and, as on St. Vlasius’ Day, the woman of the house decorates their horns with buns, and feeds them ritually. Old legends advise to avoid touching anything red on that day to protect the cattle against bleeding and the young brides from barrenness. The festivities last till late at night. 

 

More on the Dormition of the Theotokos day: Wikipedia

Ballet Todes coming to Plovdiv in December
(Based on information from the today?s copy of the Maritsa Newspaper)The dance masters of the world-famous Russian ballet ?Todes? are coming to Plovdiv for a large show-performance. The ballet ...
The Plovdiv bohemian ?Nacho the Culture?
(A shortened version of Elitsa Kandeva?s article in the 24 Hours newspaper)When somebody mentions Plovdiv, there is immediately an association with the name ?Nacho the Culture?. His re...
A paintings exhibition by a poet
A paintings exhibition by a poet
10/17/2003 12:00:00 AM
Boris Rokanov was born in 1961 in the town of Kyustendil, in the western part of Bulgaria. He is author of several books of poetry: ?Presentiments? (1989), ?My Game? (1993), ?From B to R? (1995), ?...
Flower Autumn'2003 (15.10.2003 - 19.10.2003)
Specialized Exhibition of Flowers, Ornamental Plants, Garden Equipment and SuppliesAt the moment, Plovdiv hosts the traditional Specialized Exhibition of Flowers, Ornamental Plants, Garden Equi...
Book exhibition-and-sale at the Ivan Vazov National Library. 25 photo-exhibitions in the Old Town.
(The information is based on newspapers articles)A book exhibition-and-sale will open today, Oct.15th, at 11 am, in the lobby of the Ivan Vazov National Library. The exhibition is running under...
EURO 2003  (European Chess Championship in Plovdiv) with the participation of 161 grand chess-masters
At the moment, in Pavilion 3 of the International Plovdiv Fair, takes place the European chess championship for teams. The championship started last Saturday, Oct.11th, and will close on Oct.20th. ...
Interest for building of hydroelectric power stations in the region
Water Reservoir Administration of the southeastern region of Plovdiv is subordinate to the Ministry of Environment and Waters. Its main goal is to issue licences for water-usage and usage of water ...
Forthcoming cultural events in Plovdiv
(The information is based on publications in the local newspapers)\r\nWe would like to inform you about three of the forthcoming cultural events in our city:  1. The Golden ...
A Bulgarian film chosen to compete for an Oscar Nomination in the ?Best Foreign-Country Film? Category
(In the today?s issue of the Maritsa newspaper we can read an extensive interview of the journalist Dessislava Hadjieva with the film director Ivan Nichev about his film latest ?Travelling to Jerus...
Dzhendem Tepe Hill ? an idea for its preservation and future
(Based on an article in the Maritsa newspaper)The Hills of Plovdiv are much more than just a natural phenomenon. They have always taken part in the life of the city and intend to be a part of i...