Shrovetide (Sirni Zagovezni)

The holiday Shrovetide is widespread in Bulgaria. In different parts called by different names - Sirnitsa, Sirni beginning of lent, Sirnitsa, Rhea, Zapostavane, Forgiveness, Sunday Shrovetide and others. The holiday is celebrated on the Sunday, seven weeks before Easter and one week after the Meat Shrovetide (every year is celebrated on different dates determined by the Bulgarian Orthodox Church).

On this day believers to purify their souls to meet in peace and love hearts to meet the Risen Christ.

Shrove launches largest post during the year (Lent) it connect and mummers.

According to Bulgarian folk tradition the festival is the border between winter and spring - nature, which was revived.

Sirenitsi - cleansing power of fire

Shrovetide is famous lighting of bonfires (sirenitsi) Sunday night. People believe in the almighty power of the fire and through him burn the evil spirits. Health and luck skips fire. Somewhere rotate and torches of straw. It is believed that thus drive away fleas. Light and spun Eulalia (lit tub with tar), oratnici (wood, split, which is straw, which lit) and oruglitsi (smeared with tar basket), children and young people perform ritual cleansing of the fields to bring greater prosperity.

Forgiveness - universal forgiveness

After the fires burn (sirenitsi) walk to the apartment of sponsors and parents to want forgiveness. Smaller always ask forgiveness than larger ones. Through this practice aims to restore good relations, if you say bad words in the year to purify man and become better and forgiving.

Kiss the hand of their parents and pronounce "Forgive me, mother, my father ..." and they respond, "Just you! Lord to forgive." In the Christian sense, to forgive, to believe in forgiveness from the cross of Calvary, to fill your heart with love and peace to meet the Risen Christ (Easter). But even in purely human understanding, forgiveness is a symbol of nobility and deep inner peace.

Table - last any appeal

Dinner starting fast is particularly solemn. It is the last before the start of Lent and the last can eat dairy products, eggs and fish. On the table attend pie, rolls, eggs, milk, cheese and halva necessarily white.

The custom "hamkaneto with halva"

After the festive table on Shrove evening ritual is performed hamkaneto. A long thread tying egg or halva. Children should try to hvanat with the eggs without touching it with your hands. It was believed that only it dopresh teeth - a year will enjoy good health. After the ritual thread pallets and adults predicted the future in the way forests, what will be the year. If there was a young marriageable house and the thread flicker - rather waiting for the wedding. If forests thread quickly - much wheat will have this year if the thread lurking - bad either. Eggshell does throw hens to lay more.

On this day lovers young men thrown into the courtyard of the beloved "chavgi" - burning arrows of dogwood, representing love an explanation. From this day forward explanations of love and marriage are prohibited until Easter.

Typical of the week Shrove called Todorova Sunday are mummers who have pagan origins. Wearing scary masks and belt with bells, they perform a number of rituals for prosperity and banishing evil forces. Mummery is a pagan custom, one of the few distinctive and preserved lands throughout the centuries.