Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

On St. Athanasius Day: “Go away, winter, so summer can come!”

БНР Новини
Photo: BGNES

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church pays respect to the memory of St. Athanasius the Great two times a year - on May 2 ( the day of his death) and on January 18, when his last return as Patriarch of Alexandria took place. On January 18 people traditionally celebrate Atanasovden, also called Tanasovden, Winter St. Tanas, or Midwinter.

In some regions of the country people used to believe that plague was born on this day and in order to protect themselves from the disease they sacrificed a black hen. They made a dish out of it and gave others from it along with ritual bread. A popular custom is giving others freshly-baked small loaves of bread spread with honey, with a stem of basil stuck in the middle. Women do not work on this day, nor do they cook beans or lentils.


According to traditional Bulgarian folk views, St. Athanasius is the ruler of winter. When six brave brothers used to share the rule of heaven and earth, the responsibility for winter frosts and snow fell on Atanas. On his feast day, the saint puts on a silk shirt and goes to the mountain where he shouts: “Go away, winter, so summer can come!” When winter hears these words she starts preparing to leave, while summer starts his way towards replacing her. That is why on Atanasovden the transition from winter to summer starts, according to folk beliefs. On this date, joint village celebrations are also organized and family services are held in honor of the patron saint of the family, house and farm.


According to a legend, Atanas and his brother Anton (whose holiday is on January 17) were blacksmiths. One day they were working in their shop and their dog was laying on the floor. They put iron in the furnace and when it was hot enough, they did not have anything to use to take the metal out. Then Atanas took two metal rods and decided to use them. He saw the dog and the way it kept its front paws. The blacksmith gave the same shape to the metal sticks, pinned them to one another and pulled out the iron from the furnace. This way the forging pliers were invented.

The two brothers are considered protectors of blacksmiths, knife makers and ironmongers, who celebrate their professional holiday on January 17 and 18. St. Athanasius is also considered patron of sworn brothers and that is why such rituals are performed on Atanasovden, especially in Southeastern Bulgaria. People bearing the names of Atanas, Atanaska, Nasko, Naska and so on celebrate on this day.

English: Alexander Markov




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Surva festival in Pernik

Pernik will host 44th meeting of the Federation of European Carnival Cities

Bulgaria's Pernik will host the 44th annual meeting of the Federation of European Carnival Cities , which is opening today , the municipal administration announced. More than 100 delegates from 20 countries are expected to elect a new president and new..

published on 5/13/24 6:51 AM

Today is St. Lazarus Day

Eight days before Easter, we celebrate Lazarus Saturday (St. Lazarus Day). It is the first of the three major Christian feasts associated with the miracle of the Resurrection and is followed by Palm Sunday and Easter. St. Lazarus Day is celebrated..

published on 4/27/24 7:55 AM

Mummers, elders, chaushi... the village of Turia is hosting masquerade games

The Bulgarian village of Turia at the southern foothill of the Balkan Range is welcoming over a thousand participants in the Masquerade Games "Old Men in Turia". This year's edition of the festival on 30 March will feature 28 mummers' groups from all..

published on 3/30/24 5:35 AM