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| Hello, and welcome to the Culture Class- Holidays in Bulgaria Series at BulgarianPod101.com. In this series, we’re exploring the traditions behind Bulgarian holidays and observances. I’m Eric, and you're listening to Season 1, Lesson 12- St. George's Day. |
| “St. George's Day”—or Gergyovden as it’s better known in Bulgaria—is also a Day of Bravery and the Bulgarian Army. It’s celebrated on May 6. |
| In this lesson, we will tell you why Gergyovden is connected with the “Bulgarian army,” or Balgarskata armiya, and how it’s celebrated every year. |
| Now, before we get into more detail, I've got a question for you- |
| Do you know which other very important holiday is usually celebrated around Gergyovden? |
| If you don't already know, you’ll find out a bit later, so keep listening! |
| Gergyovden is an official holiday in Bulgaria. On this day, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church “celebrates,” or chestva, the Day of “St. George the Victorious,” or Sveti Georgi Pobedonosets. This day is also a name-day for all people carrying the name Georgi and other derivative names like Gergana, Ginka, and Gancho. In fact, this is one of the most “common,” or nay-chesto sreshtani, first as well as family names in Bulgaria. |
| Gergyovden is popular as a name-day as it’s solemnly celebrated by the Bulgarian army and all military men and women. In January 1880, Prince Alexander Battenberg decreed the celebration of the holiday. Every year the President of the Republic of Bulgaria accepts the salute of a military “parade,” or in Bulgarian parad. In front of the “Unknown Soldier monument” or Pametnika na neznayniya voin, a blessing of water and the sprinkling of the army flags and other sacred flags takes place. |
| The Holiday of “Bravery,” or hrabrostta, and the Bulgarian Army are associated with St. George, because according to the legend he “killed,” or ubiva, a dreadful dragon, or as written in other places Lamia—a many-headed demon serpent, and saved a whole city from it while at the same time helping the people accept the Christian faith. St. George the Victorious was a “soldier,” or in Bulgarian voynik, in the Roman Empire and became a martyr of Christianity. The rotunda church of St. George in Sofia is considered to be the oldest preserved building in the city, and is now a cultural monument. |
| Gergyovden is also a holiday for the Bulgarian farmers and shepherds. People usually eat lamb on this day. By tradition, green salad is also prepared. |
| Now it's time to answer our quiz question- |
| Do you know which other very important holiday is usually celebrated around Gergyovden? |
| Gergyovden is often around or even exactly on Easter. The festivities on the occasion of the two holidays are big and are very much alike. On Easter lamb is also cooked, and it is associated with the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God. |
| How was this lesson? Did you learn something interesting? |
| Do you celebrate St. George’s Day? |
| Leave a comment letting us know at BulgarianPod101.com, |
| and we'll see you in the next lesson! |
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