easter in Bulgaria (part ii)

2. Palm Sunday or Cvetnica
(Flower Day) and the faithful are
given a dispensation and allowed
to eat fish.
Since palms aren't readily
available, pussy willows are taken
to church to be blessed.
he branches are often fashioned

3. he last Thursday before Easteris the
day when eggs are painted and
Easterbreads are baked.
n ourlands, religious feasts
have neverfully replaced the colourful
pagan rituals forwelcoming spring.
Some of themhave come down to us in all of theirauthenticity, but most have
been

4. The first egg is always painted red to symbolize the
blood of Christ. With the first red egg women touch
children’s forehead and make a cross for luck.This egg
should be put aside-either to be buried in the fields to
ensure fertility or kept in the home to bring good luck.
Bulgarians believe the egg must be “full” so it may
bring a full home, full barns, many offspring in the
family.

5. AS IN SO MANY OTHER THINGS, HERE TOO, THE IMAGINATION OF BULGARIAN WOMEN
DOES WONDERS

6. The Easter bread(“kozunak”) in different parts of Bulgaria can be in different shapes.
They can be big or small and they are also decorated in different ways.Easter breads may be specially
decorated with one or more
of coloured eggs.
( so called kuklichki)

7. ON THE HOLY FRIDAY NOBODY WORKS.
PEOPLE GO TO CHURCH WHERE THEY PASS
UNDER THE SHROUD FOR FORGIVENESS OF THEIR SINS.
THIS IS THE DAY OF STRONG LENT.
SOME PEOPLE DON’T EAT AND DRINK ALL DAY.

9. Easter is characterized with certain food and rituals. These are sweet
bread and dyed eggs. Kozunak, the prominent traditional symbol -
braided sweet bread, symbolizing the body of Christ, is a necessary
item of the Easter table everywhere. As the Bulgarian days
implies”Velikden”(Great Day),Easter is one of the most significant
holidays in the Bulgarian calendar started with St.Lazar’s day, the
holy weeks and leeds up to the Great Day.

10. Holy Saturday services begin at 11p.m. Families and friends attend church together, carrying their coloured eggs and Easter bread with
them. When the clock strikes midnight, the church bell begins to ring, the priest proclaims three times
”Hristos Voskrese”(Christ Has Risen) and replies ”Voistina Voskrese”(Indeed He Has Risen).
The priest and faithful then walk around the church three times with lit candle in hand.
The belief is if ne has been a good Christian, his candle will not go out no matter how
strong the wind is, because he has no sins. After a special sequence of services, the clergy blesses the breads
and eggs brought by people and they return with them to
their homes.

11. The Bulgarian good luck crack is a unique Easter tradition in Bulgaria.
The ritual tapping the eggs takes place just before the Easter lunch begins. Each person
will select his or her egg. The people in turn exchange the Easter greeting ”Christ has
risen”/”Indeed He has risen” three time before tapping their eggs against the eggs of
others. The person who ends up with the last unbroken egg is believed to have a year of
good luck. The winning egg is kept until next Easter and is a sign of good luck.
On Easter Sunday the married couples traditionally visit the best man at their wedding
and have roast lamb at lunch.

12. HAPPY
EASTER