Trifon Zarezan, Valentine and Cyril

Tomorrow everyone will be able to choose for himself what he likes more: to drink, to love, or to pray to be enlightened. Because on February 14 in Bulgaria three holidays coincide at once and any Bulgarian decides for himself what to celebrate. It is possible and all at once.

1.      Trifon Slaughtered - day of the grower.
2.      Valentine's Day - Valentine's Day.
3.      Church holiday „Assumption of St. Cyril Slavyanoblgarski.

Unfortunately, only the church-remembered people remember about Cyril, so the Bulgarian greetings on this day most often sound like this:

Честит Св. Валентин на всички влюбени и наздраве на любителите на виното

Day of the grower - Trifon Zarezan, is dedicated to the labor and love of the Bulgarians for the vine, grapes and wine. For the first time, this holiday was officially celebrated in 1962 on the day of the Holy Martyr Tryphon. Then, by the decision of the Ministerial Council, this day was declared a professional holiday of winegrowers. With the introduction of the Gregorian calendar in 1968 by the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, this church feast of St. Trifon Zarezan began to be celebrated on February 1, and the day of the grower - on February 14. And, despite the fact that "Trifonov Day" is February 1, the holiday of growers is still called "Trifon Zarezan". This holiday is associated with labor practices in the Bulgarian folk calendar: the annual cycle of processing the vine is its spring cutting (hence, "slaughtered"), young unnecessary processes are cut off from the vine so that they do not take away its power. All chores begin on the first of February.

In the people there are other names for this holiday:

•      Zarezanovden,
•      Trifun Chipia,
•      Trifun Zareza,
•      Trifun drinker.

Festive customs

The ceremonial meal is prepared by women, and men at this time are pruning the vine or are only going to, because women cannot do this.

According to the tradition, on this day one should be treated with special bread (beverage), decorated with figures in the form of a grape leaf or bunch, boiled chicken stuffed with rice or bulgur, siren (white cheese), lard, sausage, pickles and, of course, red wine.

In the morning, this treat should be folded in a new woolen bag and given to the man on the road when he goes to the vineyards.

Women are not only forbidden to prune the vine, but also to be in the vineyards on this day, because according to legend, Trifon cut his nose on this day (they say that he was already drunk). That is for their own safety.

In the vineyard, too, they perform certain actions: the vine is poured with water, and where with wine for future fertility. It all depends on the region of Bulgaria - there are subtleties everywhere. In some places even choose the king of the vine.

Of course, the full rite is already observed in few places and most often in the villages. In the cities, they simply gather with friends at home or in the mehanes and enjoy themselves with wine.

Who is Trifon

Trifon is a holy healer who was executed for his faith in 248 AD in the reign of Emperor Decius Trajan. Trifon was born in the province of Phrygia in an area that was considered the ancestral home of the vine and wine.

He became famous after he healed the daughter of the Roman emperor Gordian III. However, the heir of Gordian, Decius Traian, was an implacable enemy of Christian doctrine and executed all the then-known saints. Among them was Trifon, who did not wish to renounce his faith and died as a martyr.

Valentine's Day

Maybe in some villages and villages "Saint Valentine" is not celebrated, but in large cities, for example, in Sofia, all the counters are already filled up with this "love" paraphernalia. And schools hold competitions for the best gift and so on. And if you want to get to the restaurant on this day, then you need to book strongly in advance - for this is probably the only day of the year when it is impossible to get to any Sofia institution just from the street. In the evening, I mean. But the restaurants here are a terrible amount.

This holiday is celebrated in Bulgaria just as everywhere else - people give each other valentines, sweets and flowers. Of course, Valentine's Day is the most popular among teenagers and young people.

Saint Valentine was born in Italy and was a Christian bishop. He lived in the time of Emperor Marcus Aurelius Claudius the Second. When the emperor forbade the soldiers to marry, Bishop Valentine secretly crowned them. Therefore, St. Valentine and was declared the protector of all lovers.

Assumption of St. Cyril Slavyanobudarski

On February 14, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church commemorates the assumption of St. Cyril Slavyanobugarski. Konstantin the philosopher, named Cyril, came from a family of noble Solunian Slavs (according to Bulgarian legends).

He studied in Constantinople, for his inclinations got the nickname "philosopher" and was invited to work in the patriarchal library, and also taught philosophy.

Tired of worldly vanity, Konstantin secretly fled to the monastery to his brother Methodius, where they together created the Slavic alphabet and translated the sacred Christian books into Slavic language.

Cyril died on February 14, 869 and was buried in the church "St. Clement of Rome".

I suppose everyone has already guessed that we are talking about Cyril and Methodius, just in the Bulgarian tradition their names sound slightly different.

In short, with the holiday! Choose what you like best: enlightenment day, day of love or the day of "drunkenness".

Thank you for your time and attention.

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