Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Bulgarian Orthodox Church marks Cheesefare Sunday

Photo: archive

Cheesefare Sunday is the last day before the start of the Great Lent. On this day, people ask forgiveness from the elder family members. “If you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you”, said Head Priest Slavcho Prodanov from the town of Targovishte.

The festive table on Cheesefare Sunday includes cheese, fish, boiled eggs, boiled wheat and white halva (a sweet made of sesame seeds and sugar). A ritual called hamkane performed with boiled egg or white halva also takes place on this day. The egg or the halva are stringed up by a red thread and suspended from the ceiling. The oldest man in the family sways the string and all the people around the table try to catch the egg or the halva with their mouth. It is believed that the one who catches the egg or the halva would enjoy sound health throughout the year.




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

Marta Kos

EU expects Bulgaria and North Macedonia to reach agreement on Bulgarian minority

In an interview with public service TV BNT, Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, who is on a working visit to Bulgaria, stated that Ukraine and the Ukrainian people very much wanted to become part of the EU and that at this rate we can hope to see..

published on 4/17/25 10:53 AM

Bulgarian businesses expect 5%-30% drop due to new US tariffs: Survey

Half of the companies from the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association say that the tariffs on the import of commodities announced by US President Donald Trump are not going to affect their businesses directly. One-third of the employers..

published on 4/17/25 9:28 AM

EC releases convergence report on Bulgaria’s readiness to adopt the euro on 4 June

The European Commission has set a date for the release of the ad-hoc convergence report evaluating Bulgaria's readiness to adopt the euro - June 4. The report will be released during the spring cycle of the European semester. The information..

published on 4/17/25 8:33 AM