The Saint Elijah Feast Day in Bulgaria is a huge event, rooted in both history and folklore. In this article, we’ll answer the question “Who is Prophet Elijah?” and provide you with interesting information on this Bulgarian holiday, and the traditions associated with it.
In learning about Saint Elijah Feast Day, you’re learning so much more! This is just one moving part in the complexity of Bulgarian culture, history, and religion, and knowing about these things will significantly improve your Bulgarian language-learning!
At BulgarianPod101.com, we hope to make this learning adventure both fun and informative!
1. What is St. Elijah’s Day in Bulgaria?
The Saint Elijah Feast Day is when Bulgarians commemorate and celebrate the Prophet Elijah (also known as St. Elijah). This is also a name day for those with names similar to Ilenden, which is yet another name for this holiday.
Who is Elijah the Prophet?
Saint Elijah—patron saint of tailors, and master of the elements of rain, thunder, and lightning—is considered a great of the Old Testament and is also a prominent figure in Bulgarian folklore. In the Bible, Elijah the prophet of God performed many miracles, combatted paganism, and is perhaps most well-known for never actually dying, but rather being taken up to God in a chariot of fire.
Prophet Elijah miracles include raising people from the dead and causing fire to fall from the sky.
In terms of folklore, Prophet Elijah is thought to control the elements involved in thunderstorms and similar natural occurrences.
2. When is St. Elijah Day?
Each year, St. Elijah’s Day takes place on July 20 (though there is another similar celebration on August 2).
3. How do Bulgarians Celebrate the Saint Elijah Feast Day?
There’s a variety of traditions and celebrations for the St. Elijah Feast Day, many rooted in folklore.
The most common St. Elijah Day tradition is that of offering a sacrifice. Bulgarian towns will sacrifice a bull or a calf, in hopes that the sacrifice will satisfy St. Elijah and thus protect the town from bad storms. In the same vein, farmers pray to St. Elijah for rain in order to maintain healthy crops; Bulgarians also pray to Elijah for health and fertility.
Further, women bake bread for St. Elijah, namely bogovitsa and kolach, and Bulgarians enjoy sharing stories about the saint. Another fun tradition is that of fire dancing. During this fire dancing ceremony, some people walk on the fire barefooted!
Many Bulgarians believe that it’s bad luck to go swimming on St. Elijah Feast Day, especially in the Black Sea. According to superstition, St. Elijah will take those who go swimming as a sacrifice!
4. Uprising Remembrance
July 20 also marks the anniversary of the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising. During this uprising, Bulgaria set out against the Ottoman Empire to unify Bulgarian-populated territories. This event lasted approximately eleven days and was only partially successful.
The official remembrance day for the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising is August 2.
5. Vocabulary You Should Know for St. Elijah’s Day
Here’s some vocabulary you should know for St. Elijah’s Day in Bulgaria!
- Гръмотевица (gramotevitsa) — thunder
- Жертва (zhertva) — sacrifice
- Свети пророк Илия (Sveti prorok Iliya) — Prophet Elijah
- Илинденско-Преображенско въстание (Ilindensko-Preobrazhensko vastanie) — Ilinden–Preobrazhenie Uprising
- Събор (sabor) — congregation
- Градушка (gradushka) — hail
- Бунт (bunt) — revolt
- Стар Завет (Star Zavet) — Old Testament
- Чудотворец (chudotvorets) — wonderworker
- Крепост (krepost) — fortress
- езическо божество (ezichesko bozhestvo) — pagan deity
- моля се (molya se) — pray
- Удрям (udryam) — strike
- Завалявам (zavalyavam) — start to rain
To hear each vocabulary word pronounced, check out our Bulgarian St. Elijah’s Day vocabulary list!
Conclusion
What do you think of St. Elijah Feast Day, and the Bulgarian folklore surrounding it? Did you learn anything new today? Let us know in the comments; we always look forward to hearing from you!
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