14th FEBRUARY – a day 14th FEBRUARY – a day in honour of the in honour of the

Bulgarian tradition Bulgarian tradition

And accepting the European And accepting the European oneone

Saint TrifonSaint Trifon February is the month February is the month

when Bulgarians celebrate when Bulgarians celebrate wine and its patron saint wine and its patron saint Trifon, also known as Trifon Trifon, also known as Trifon Zarezan. The festivities on Zarezan. The festivities on the day of Trifon Zarezan the day of Trifon Zarezan mark the transition mark the transition between the dead winter between the dead winter season and the season and the invigorating powers of the invigorating powers of the following seasons. That is following seasons. That is why, the rituals of the why, the rituals of the period are performed to period are performed to strengthen and ensure a strengthen and ensure a triumph of vitality and triumph of vitality and fruitfulness.fruitfulness.

ON February 14 men ON February 14 men gather in the vineyards gather in the vineyards outside the villages and outside the villages and prune the vines. Women prune the vines. Women get up early in the get up early in the morning, bake festive morning, bake festive bread – loaves decorated bread – loaves decorated with dough vines and with dough vines and grapes images, roast a grapes images, roast a hen stuffed with grits , hen stuffed with grits , put all these and a flask put all these and a flask of wine in a woolen bag of wine in a woolen bag and see off the men to and see off the men to the gate. The special the gate. The special round loaves are symbol round loaves are symbol of the fertile field and of the fertile field and the women give from the women give from them to neighbours and them to neighbours and relatives. Men first go to relatives. Men first go to the holiday church the holiday church service and then head to service and then head to the vineyards,taking a the vineyards,taking a musician with them. musician with them.

Every man, when stepping Every man, when stepping onto his vineyard looks at the onto his vineyard looks at the rising sun and makes the sign rising sun and makes the sign of the cross three times. Then of the cross three times. Then he cuts three twigs from three he cuts three twigs from three different vines and washes the different vines and washes the cut places with red wine, holy cut places with red wine, holy water and ashes from wood water and ashes from wood burnt on Christmas Eve. While burnt on Christmas Eve. While pruning, everyone whispers pruning, everyone whispers blessings for abundant harvest blessings for abundant harvest later in the year. The pruned later in the year. The pruned twigs are twined into wreaths twigs are twined into wreaths that men put on their hats and that men put on their hats and take home to put in front of take home to put in front of the icon. During the festivities, the icon. During the festivities, men pick up three live coals men pick up three live coals from their hearth. These from their hearth. These symbol ise the invigorating symbol ise the invigorating power of the Fire and the Sun. power of the Fire and the Sun. Looking at the coals, people Looking at the coals, people try to foretell which crops will try to foretell which crops will yield the most abundant yield the most abundant harvest in the new season. harvest in the new season.

As for the etymology of As for the etymology of the name Trifon Zarezan, the name Trifon Zarezan, there are several folklore there are several folklore versions. One of th e most versions. One of th e most popular stories is that popular stories is that Trifon, just like the Trifon, just like the villagers, once had a villagers, once had a vineyard. One day, when vineyard. One day, when he was pruning his yard, he was pruning his yard, The Virgin Mary passed The Virgin Mary passed by. Trifon laughed at her by. Trifon laughed at her that she did not know who that she did not know who the father of her child was, the father of her child was, so she condemned him to so she condemned him to cut his nose with his cut his nose with his pruning shears. From then pruning shears. From then on, people called Trifon –“ on, people called Trifon –“ Zarezan” ( the “snub-Zarezan” ( the “snub-nosed”)nosed”)

Saint Valentine`s DaySaint Valentine`s Day - In recent years, Trifon has - In recent years, Trifon has

come to share his day with come to share his day with another saint. Known around another saint. Known around the world as the day on the world as the day on which lovers express their which lovers express their feelings for each other, or feelings for each other, or secret admirers profess their secret admirers profess their love through anonymous love through anonymous cards. One popular legends cards. One popular legends goes back 800 years before goes back 800 years before the establishment of the establishment of Valentine`s Day : mid-Valentine`s Day : mid-February was the time when February was the time when young Roman men young Roman men celebrated their rite of the celebrated their rite of the passage to the God passage to the God Lupercus, the God of fertility. Lupercus, the God of fertility. As part of this celebration, it As part of this celebration, it is said that men drew girls` is said that men drew girls` names from an urn. The names from an urn. The couple would then pair up as couple would then pair up as lovers.lovers.