Over the years, we have introduced you to some Bulgarian customs and traditions, such as the magical power of the kukeri festivals and the mysteries surrounding Christmas and Easter celebrations. Today, however, we turn your attention to a few lesser-known rituals that you may not have heard of, even if you're not a tourist:
Bekane is a ritual typical of the Rhodope Mountains, connected with the livelihood of the people—sheep breeding. It is performed on Todorovden (St. Theodore's Day) for the well-being of the people and their livestock. Preparations begin the day before the church holiday, when the household mistress soaks peas in water. After church on Todorovden, each family returns home. The hostess serves each family member a small portion of the soaked peas. Afterward, the woman throws a handful of peas for the animals and relatives. Another special part of the bekane ritual involves the exchange of gifts between young women and men. Each girl strings a rosary made of peas as a gift for her chosen one. The boy must also prepare a gift for the girl to ensure peace in the home.
Miaukane is a ritual performed only in the village of Bolyartsi near Asenovgrad. It takes place annually around Epiphany and is unique in the entire country. In this ritual, young people aged 15 and over can participate. There is no upper age limit, but participants must be bachelors or unmarried boys. Those who get engaged or married during the year are no longer allowed to participate. The purpose of the "Miaukane" ritual is for the young women and men in the village to meet and find their life partners. The date is January 6th (Epiphany), and the bachelors visit every house with a young girl, receiving a pre-made banitsa (traditional pastry) or cake, saying, "three-five meows, come on, tomcats, for the girl and her cake." However, on January 4th, the unmarried men visit each girl in the village to inform her that they will come again in two days. The tradition in Bolyartsi continues on the evening of January 6th at 6:00 PM when the mayor evaluates the prepared dishes, rewards the girls, and everyone celebrates.
Kumichene is a ritual mainly performed by young women for health and fertility. The ritual is usually carried out on Lazarus Saturday or Palm Sunday by older girls who no longer participate in the lazaruvane (a traditional rite). The girls choose one among them, called the "kumitsa." She leads them to her home, where they dance in a circle around the festive table. The table always has a loaf of bread, which is parted by the kumitsa and distributed to each girl for health. Along with the dances, there are references to traditional "marriage divinations"—who will marry first, what kind of husband she'll have, how they will live, and all other questions that concern the girls. For each stage of kumichene, there are specific songs and dances. The ritual ends with the so-called "Swinging on Song"—the higher the swing goes, the higher the song is sung, and the higher the wheat will grow!
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