Dancing on coals in Bulgaria

In Bulgaria there are many nestinarskih villages, in which even today you can see amazing and unforgettable dances on hot coals. Dancing on coals - have become a trademark of Bulgaria. This rare ancient art is still preserved in this country.

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When you come to Bulgaria, try to get on such a performance. We were lucky, we ended up on a holiday that is held only once a year.

This ancient custom is fully preserved in the south-eastern region of the country, in the village of Strandzha. In other parts of the country dances are arranged especially for tourists, and they are entertaining.

By tradition, on June 3, Bulgarians celebrate the day of saints Constantine and Helena, and early in the morning three young men bring the icons of St. Constantine and Helen to the nearest holy spring, where they are consecrated.

Then they leave for the evening in the chapel, where the sacred icons are kept, and they listen to the drumbeat in a certain rhythm, after which they fall into a trance. And after the fire is already lit on the square, they begin to dance, holding sacred objects, icons.

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Fire in the fire is constantly supported by the oldest of the nestinars, who no longer dance.
The spectacle is so fascinating that you can not think of anything else, you are completely captivated by this dance, and you do not understand how people can walk on the hot coals and not be burned ... They do this as naturally as if they walk not on coals, but on green Soft grass.

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Scientists still can not explain why people do not burn, and are not burned during this sacral ritual, why their clothes do not break out, and they come out of the fire unscathed.

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Bulgarians tell a story, which says that during the Osman invasion of these lands, in one of the villages the temple of Saint Constantine and his mother Elena was set on fire.

A young girl, seeing it rushed to the blazing church. There seemed to be no hope. But now, she ran out of the flames on the coals, as if dancing, and pressing the icon of the saints to her chest. The girl was absolutely unscathed, the Fire did not touch her. Everyone recognized this as a miracle, and in honor of it resumed non-dynastic dances, but already with the icon of Emperor Constantine and his mother Elena in the hands of the day of the glorification of these saints - July 3.

The very word nestinara is formed from the word "istinara," which means knowing, knowing people, according to another version the word came from the Greek "estia" - fire.