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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 25 - Shrove. |
| Seven weeks before Easter, Bulgarians celebrate “Cheesefare Day” or Sirni zagovezni. This day is also called Sirnitsa, Proshka, Prochka, or “Forgiveness.” |
| In this lesson we’ll tell you all about this specific Bulgarian holiday. |
| Now, before we get into more detail, I've got a question for you- |
| Are you familiar with the hamkane, the custom performed on this day? |
| If you don't already know, you’ll find out a bit later, so keep listening! |
| Cheesefare Day is “always,” or vinagi, celebrated on a Sunday. The feast “lasts,” or trae, one week, during which different ceremonies take place. The most essential ritual, however, is the asking for forgiveness. For this reason the holiday is called “Forgiveness” or Proshka. In this ritual, the young kiss the hands of the old and ask them for forgiveness. |
| The elders give forgiveness and treat the young. Usually on this day, the family gathers for dinner. The Zagovezni table usually holds cheese banitsa, “boiled,” or vareni, eggs, boiled wheat, and halva. It’s typical to put dairy products on the table. |
| After Shrove, the Great Lent starts, and this is a time people usually fast, don’t indulge in big revelries, and weddings are |
| “forbidden,” or zabraneni. That’s why this day is the symbolic end of the fast-free period and the beginning of a period of purifying, starting with the forgiveness of our closest ones. |
| There is also a custom of throwing “burning arrows” or chavgi. Young men “cast,” or hvarlyat, them towards the homes of their beloved girls. Ritual “fires” or sirenitsa or ognyove, are also lit on Cheesefare Day to chase away evil. |
| Now it's time to answer our quiz question- |
| Are you familiar with the hamkane custom performed on this day? |
| The hamkane is performed by tying a piece of white halva or boiled egg on a “red thread,” or cherven konets. The children try to take a “bite,” or hapnat, from the egg without using their hands. The one who takes a bite first will be healthy and lucky all throughout the year. |
| How was this lesson? Did you learn something interesting? |
| Do you have a day where the people ask for forgiveness? |
| Leave a comment letting us know at BulgarianPod101.com |
| and we'll see you in the next series! |
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