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

Traditional men’s horo in Kalofer

Photo: Kremena Daneva

Hundreds of men danced the horo in the cold waters of the river Tunja in Kalofer. Clad in folk costumes and with the national flag in hand, to the sound of drums and bagpipes, they sang a popular folk song.

After the solemn church service in the St. Archangel Michael church, Father Dimitriy threw the Epiphany cross into the river. It was retrieved by 6-year old Martin.

Thousands flocked to Kalofer for the ritual, many also entered the River Tunja, even though the rule is for the guests to wait for the local participants to enter the waters first.

The cross-throwing ritual is observed in many parts of the country. In Sofia the cross will be thrown into the pond in Druzhba residential area at 1 PM.



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

Cloudy and rainy weather on the first day of March

On Saturday it will be mostly cloudy with light rain, which in some places in the northern regions of Bulgaria will be mixed with snow. There will be almost no precipitation in Southeast Bulgaria. In the morning hours in many places in the plains and..

published on 2/28/25 7:35 PM

Beekeepers and grain farmers call for suspension of wind farms in Dobrudzha

Bulgarian beekeepers', farmers' and grain growers' organisations have spoken out against the construction of wind turbines and photovoltaic plants on agricultural land , BNR's correspondent in Dobrich reports. Beekeepers whose hives are located..

published on 2/28/25 6:35 PM

Bulgaria gets second air ambulance

The second helicopter to provide emergency medical services by air landed in Bulgaria this afternoon, the Health Ministry said. It will be used at the HEMS regional base in the city of Sliven. The eight air medical teams that will work there have..

published on 2/28/25 6:25 PM