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14th FEBRUARY – a day14th FEBRUARY – a day
in honour of the Bulgarianin honour of the Bulgarian
traditiontradition
And accepting the European oneAnd accepting the European one

Saint TrifonSaint Trifon
 February is the month whenFebruary is the month when
Bulgarians celebrate wine andBulgarians celebrate wine and
its patron saint Trifon, alsoits patron saint Trifon, also
known as Trifon Zarezan. Theknown as Trifon Zarezan. The
festivities on the day of Trifonfestivities on the day of Trifon
Zarezan mark the transitionZarezan mark the transition
between the dead winterbetween the dead winter
season and the invigoratingseason and the invigorating
powers of the followingpowers of the following
seasons. That is why, theseasons. That is why, the
rituals of the period arerituals of the period are
performed to strengthen andperformed to strengthen and
ensure a triumph of vitality andensure a triumph of vitality and
fruitfulness.fruitfulness.

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

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

Traditions, 14th february – a day in honour of

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

Saint Valentine`s DaySaint Valentine`s Day
 - In recent years, Trifon has- In recent years, Trifon has
come to share his day withcome to share his day with
another saint. Known aroundanother saint. Known around
the world as the day on whichthe world as the day on which
lovers express their feelingslovers express their feelings
for each other, or secretfor each other, or secret
admirers profess their loveadmirers profess their love
through anonymous cards.through anonymous cards.
One popular legends goesOne popular legends goes
back 800 years before theback 800 years before the
establishment of Valentine`sestablishment of Valentine`s
Day : mid-February was theDay : mid-February was the
time when young Roman mentime when young Roman men
celebrated their rite of thecelebrated their rite of the
passage to the God Lupercus,passage to the God Lupercus,
the God of fertility. As part ofthe God of fertility. As part of
this celebration, it is said thatthis celebration, it is said that
men drew girls` names frommen drew girls` names from
an urn. The couple would thenan urn. The couple would then
pair up as lovers.pair up as lovers.

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Traditions, 14th february – a day in honour of

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