Jordan Day (Epiphany) in Bulgaria

In Russia, the baptism of Christ is celebrated on January 19 It is believed that on this day Jesus of Nazareth entered the waters of the Jordan “for the remission of sins” The baptism of the Son of God by John the Baptist refers to the first day of the creation of the world The Gospel details how Jesus, renewed and washed, emerges innocently from the waters of the river and sees the Holy Spirit descend from heaven Epiphany is the third most important Orthodox holiday after Christmas and Easter In Bulgaria, Epiphany is celebrated according to the old style on January 6 The holiday is also called "Jordan's Day", "Vodytsi" and "Vodokrysht" On January 6, a festive service is held in churches, after which the clergyman throws the Holy Cross into the nearest body of water Young men, despite the low air temperature, dive for the Christian symbol It is believed that a person who takes out the cross will be successful and healthy throughout the year Bulgarians bathe in icy, blessed water, washing away sins and strengthening their body and spirit Icons are washed with it, and rural residents sprinkle their pets After bathing near a river or lake, and sometimes in the water, they begin to sing and dance Round dances are held to the sound of drums, with participants holding Bulgarian flags in their hands On Jordan's day they tell fortunes and predict the weather So, if the cross, which was taken out of the water, freezes and becomes covered with frost, then the year will be fruitful and prosperous On Epiphany, people gather around the table for a solemn meal and light the candles left over from Christmas Eve The menu on Jordan's Day includes exclusively lean dishes: rolls and flatbreads, beans, sauerkraut in grape leaves, pepper topped with rice and feta cheese, nuts and wine In some families, according to an ancient tradition, they eat Bulgarian pork ribs and other delicacies Residents of the Rhodope Mountains, a mountain range located in southeastern Europe, throw newlyweds into a river or lake on Jordan Day In this way, couples who got married in the past year are symbolically charged with health If there are no natural bodies of water nearby, haskars, specially trained people, wash the newlyweds with water from a spring or well On January 6, Bulgarians celebrate not only Epiphany, but also the birthday of national hero Hristo Botev The revolutionary and major political figure took an active part in the liberation of the people from the oppression of the Ottoman yoke 2 years after the death of H Botev in 1876, Bulgaria gained independence Over time, the revolutionary turned into a mythological figure and symbol of national revival, which in its significance and historical role is not inferior to Jesus Christ