site.btaEpiphany Bulgarian Style: Church and Customs Hand-in-Hand

On January 6, Bulgarians observe Epiphany, locally known as "Yordanovden" [the Day of the River Jordan]. The day celebrates the baptism of Jesus Christ in the River Jordan, which gives the origin of the water blessing ritual and its power to purify and bring good health.

The feast is also known as Bogoyavlenie ["Manifestation of God"] and Krashtenie Gospodne ["Baptism of the Lord"], for Orthodox Christians regard the baptism of Jesus as his manifestation to the world as the Son of God.

The holiday has different names in the different parts of the country, but the one most commonly used is Voditsi - a derivative of the Bulgarian for water voda.

On this day local priests perform the Great Blessing of Waters following a divine liturgy at the church and heading a procession of the people with the cross to the nearest body of water outdoors, ideally one of "living water". The priest then blesses the water by casting the cross in it and any number of volunteers may try to recover the cross. The person who gets the cross first returns it to the priest, who then delivers a special blessing to the swimmer and their household. Recovering the cross is considered a sign of good luck and health.

The celebration of the custom in Kalofer (Central Bulgaria) has become particularly attractive. Hundreds of men wearing folk costumes, some of whom carry toddlers piggyback, wade deep into the icy waters of the River Tundzha where they form concentric circles and dance the traditional horo chain dance. Interlocking arms on their shoulders and accompanied by bagpipes and drummers in their midst, they dance and sing a signature folk song used on this occasion. 

Kalofer follows the tradition of the cross with a difference that, locals say, is unique to their town: the cross is thrown while the river dance is underway, and whoever fishes it out hands it to the youngest participant, which in 2022 happened to be a 4-year-old.

The event enjoys immense popularity, drawing spectators from all over the country. Last year, all accommodation facilities within tens of miles from Kalofer were booked solid for the occasion months earlier.

This year will probably better those results because of the fact that Kalofer's most famous native son, revolutionary poet Hristo Botev, was born on Epiphany in 1848, and 2023 marks the 175th anniversary of his birth.

In the Rhodope region, men give a ritual bath to newborns and newlyweds.

In some villages in the Southwest of the country, the one to retrieve the cross is designated in advance - he is named best man of the village and people give him gifts. On Epiphany he goes round the village and sprinkles people's homes with holy water.

Meat is excluded from the Epiphany menu and the traditional fares includes ritual bread, sauerkraut leaves stuffed with rice, stuffed dried peppers, boiled wheat and wine.