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 each year on a different date, but always on the Saturday preceding the Holy Week. Lazarus Saturday or Lazarovden in Bulgarian bears the name of Lazarus, who was brought back from the dead through the miracle of resurrection and Christ clearly manifested Himself as Lord of Life and Death.
The most typical Bulgarian custom for this day is called ''lazaruvane''. From early morning young unmarried girls called ‘’Lazarki’’ go from home to home, dancing and singing, wishing for love, good health and fertility. In the past there was a belief that a girl who had not participated in the custom would not get married, so it was obligatory for every teenage girl in a village to take part in the rituals. On this day, it was customary for young men to make a marriage proposal to their beloved.
Even today, Lazarus Saturday brings a spring mood and is eagerly awaited by participants, as well as residents and guests of villages and towns.
You can learn more details about the colourful Bulgarian feast in Radio Bulgaria’s publications:
Photos: BGNESMadlen Bozhilova Amin is the winner of the 2021 UNESCO's Living Human Treasure prize for a project related to the making of the old-time folk costume from the region of Kyustendil called "saya" . Some time ago, the Bulgarian woman returned from abroad to..
For the 8th time, Kardzhali is hosting the Folklore Festival of amateur folk dance clubs "Perpera". The forum will gather today on the stage of the theater in Kardzhali more than 420 amateur dancers from all over the country. They will perform..
Bulgarian national folk costumes from the Rhodope region inspired young European designers, finalists in the Open Space Foundation's Echo Academies project , BTA reported, citing Alma Communication. In the recently concluded first stage of the..
+359 2 9336 661