Traditions & NameDays

As early as 7000 years B.C., 3000 years before the Egyptians, traders from this land, now known as Bulgaria, had crossed up and down the Mediterranean. This long and winding history gave a source of not only great national pride but also an inspiration for a new national spirit. Much has perished through all these millennia, but even more has remained - a rich spiritual world which will shower you with the colours, rhythms and melodious songs of living Bulgarian folklore, the unfading beauty of Bulgarian arts and crafts, the gaiety and vivacity of Bulgarian festivals and customs, the piquant taste of Bulgarian cuisine and the delicate fragrance of Bulgarian wines.

Plovdiv region and the city, villages and towns therein, with its remnants of the Byzantine, Roman and Ottoman civilizations, count among their wealth an unusually diverse culture, parts of which have remained unchanged for centuries. In this section of Plovdiv Guide, we offer you a trip through the land which has been so richly endowed by God with elegant beauty and invite you to discover its traditions, customs and rituals.
St. Annas Summer Feastday  (Dormition of the Mother of the Holy Virgin) - July 25
Name day of everyone named Anna, Yana, Enko.This is the second day around the year dedicated to St. Anna (December  9 - ANINDEN/St. Anna’s Day, the Conception of the Holy Mother of God by Sai...
Name day for Paraskev, Paraskeva, Parashkev, Parashkeva...
ST. PANTELEYMON, the All-Merciful - July 27
Name day of everyone named Panteley, Dobra, Dobrin, Dobrina.The feast is also popular under the name Panteleimon the Traveler, or Water Panteleimon – it is a traditional feast connected to the bel...
July 27 – Day of Cyril and Methodius and Their Five Disciples
On July 27, the Christian world celebrates the memory of the two brothers Cyril and Methodius and their five disciples. On this day in 916, the last one of the seven Slavonic enlighteners...
Name day of Evdokia, Evdokim, Eudokia and Eudokim....
Name day for Vulko, Vulka...
MAKAVEYAN DAYS  -  August 1-12
The traditional holidays called "Makaveyan Days" last for 12 days - from August 1st to August 12th. The Makaveyan Days are related to folk meteorology. Old people used to name those 12 days ...
Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ - August 6
August 6th, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to the legend, that day Jesus Christ strengthens the belief of his disciples in his holy origin by tr...
SVETA BOGORODITSA / GOLJAMA BOGORODITSA (Holy Virgin Marys Day) - August 15
The Orthodox Church names the day Assumption Day (Dormition of the Theotokos). Name day of everyone named Maria, Mariana, Mara, Marcho, Mario.The Assumption Day is a great traditional feast. Votiv...
St. IVAN RILSKI (also known as St John of Rila) - August 18
St Ivan Rilski had lived in many places until he finally settled in the wonderful Rila Mountain where he founded a monastery that has been existing until now, for more than 1000 years. He made a lot o...