Share

Text size

Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Day of Saint Sylvester or Karamanovden

published on 1/2/24 10:48 AM

Photo: archive

The Orthodox church marks the day of Saint Sylvester today. A Roman Pope, who lived in the 3rd-4th century, and who, according to legend baptized Emperor Constantine I the Great and converted him to Christianity.

In folklore belief, Saint Sylvester is the patron saint of animals, and more specifically cattle. The feast day is also known as Karamanovden, Ox Day, Sylvestri. Rituals on this day are connected with cleansing – cleaning out the manure from the stables which have not been cleaned since Christmas. On the night before Karamanovden, the young men who went carol singing at Christmas, now make the rounds of the houses in the village where there is cattle and draft animals in twos or threes.

In the region of the Western Rhodopes the day goes by the name of Spolezov, and, similar to the tradition on St. Ignatius Day, Ignazhden (20 December), it is very important who the first person entering the home will be. The guest should be a good person and wealthy so the year will be good and prosperous. The meal on this day should not include pork or bacon – it is believed this will keep the farm animals healthy.

Find out more about the traditions, rituals and songs connected with this day:

Day of St. Sylvester – folk customs and beliefs

On our part, we would like to wish a happy name day to all people called Sylvester, Sylvia, Silvana, Seraphim, Goran, Goritsa!

Editing by Elena Karkalanova

Translated and posted by Milena Daynova

Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!

Radio Bulgaria Folklore cattle farm animals Karamanovden Saint Sylvester

More from category

Esther Willems - choreographer from The Hague who believes that the Bulgarian soul is encoded in the dances

The Hague, a city in the south of the Netherlands, the administrative centre and the place where the Queen lives and works... Hardly anyone associates this city with Bulgarian folklore and traditions. But the fact is that the interest in..

published on 7/4/24 8:12 PM

With the magic of the horo dance in Razlog

On June 28 and 29th, the city of Razlog, in the region of Blagoevgrad, will present the magic of Bulgarian folklore. In these days, the XIII Festival of traditional horo dance will be held on the central square "Preobrazhenie". The..

published on 6/28/24 8:25 AM

Midsummer herbs and water have magical powers

Early in the morning, young men and women gather in the meadows to play with the sun. "It is believed that the sun dances and shimmers on Enyovden at sunrise, because it is the longest solstice of the year". This is the most important thing to know about..

published on 6/24/24 7:00 AM

1
..
4
5
6
7
8
..
10

WEATHER

Pick city: Sofía

Snow
Min: 0 | Max: 2

BULGARIA IN PICTURES

Which world-famous Bulgarian artist designed QSL cards for Radio Bulgaria?

MOST VIEWED

"Come down, Dzherman, and dine!" – the lost magic of Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve, once called Budnik, Little Christmas or Neyadka, was considered part of a dark, frightening period, charged with the potential to..

published on 12/24/24 5:30 AM

The magic of Christmas – from the ancient blessings of carolers to the appearance of Santa Claus in our lands

On Christmas morning the glad tidings have spread that the Son of God was born, making it a special day celebrated with a lot of festive rituals. After..

published on 12/25/24 9:00 AM

shopify analytics ecommerce
tracking