ПРОГРАМИ
en de ru fr es sr gr al tr ro
Podcast in English
Share
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Arife - the day when Muslims prepare for Eid

Photo: grandmufti.bg

Today is once again the day of Arife, which precedes every Bayram, no matter whether it is Ramadan or Eid.

Muslims today pay tribute to their deceased loved ones, with women in every home kneading dough, which is made into Mekitsi (Bulgarian fried dough breakfast) and handed out to relatives and neighbours, regardless of their religion or faith.


The significance of this day is closely linked to the preparation of the sacrificial animal to be offered on the following day - Eid - as an expression of gratitude to God. It is essential that the animal - be it a sheep, goat, cow, calf or camel - is healthy.

It is believed that on the Day of Judgement, this animal will meet man on the bridge that spans Hell and leads to Heaven. If the kurban is accepted by the Almighty and the man has lived righteously, he will confidently ride the animal and it will take him to Paradise.


So on this day the sacrificial animal is prepared for the feast. To make it look beautiful, the lady of the house paints its forehead, back and tail with henna.

In some villages in Bulgaria, on the day before Eid, the fiancé sends a ram to his fiancée's house, painted with henna and decorated with ribbons and a gold coin. 


One of the most important aspects of the Bayram Kurban is its distribution, which emphasises sharing. The meat of the animal is divided into three parts: one portion is kept for the family, another for relatives and friends, and the third is given to the poor, regardless of their religion or beliefs, ensuring that everyone can share in the feast.


In certain villages in the regions of Kardzhali, Burgas and Silistra, a tradition known as the "distribution of sweets" takes place on Arife Day. Adults gather in the village square and hand out sweets to children, who line up one by one to receive a handful of sweets.

Photos: grandmufti.bg, BNR - Kardzhali
Translated and posted by Elizabeth Radkova

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.
Radio Bulgaria History and religion    arife bayram muslim tradition

More from category

Days of Croatian Archaeological Heritage start in Sofia

The Days of Croatian Archaeological Heritage, which will last until 8 November, begin today at the National Archaeological Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (NAIM-BAS) in Sofia. The event is organised by the Croatian Embassy in..

published on 11/6/24 7:55 AM
The signing of the Treaty of Neuilly, 1919.

104 years since the annexation of the Western Outlands

Today, 6 November, marks 104 years since the annexation of the Western Outlands in 1920. Traditionally Bulgarian territories in south-eastern Serbia and northern Macedonia were ceded to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes in 1920 as a result of..

published on 11/5/24 6:39 PM

Bakadzhik monastery has preserved relics from the National Liberation of Bulgaria

Volunteers joined the efforts to clean and restore the monastery St. Spas near Bakadzhik peak. The campaign is being organized on 2 November by Stoimen Petrov, mayor of the nearby village of Chargan, the Bulgarian news agency BTA reports. The..

published on 11/2/24 8:30 AM

WEATHER
Pick city: Sofía
Partly Cloudy
Min: -4 | Max: 11
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 9
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 9
Partly Cloudy
Min: -4 | Max: 10
Partly Cloudy
Min: 0 | Max: 11
Partly Cloudy
Min: -2 | Max: 11
Partly Cloudy
Min: -2 | Max: 10
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -8 | Max: 7
Partly Cloudy
Min: -4 | Max: 11
Partly Cloudy
Min: -4 | Max: 11
Partly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 10
Partly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 10
Partly Cloudy
Min: -4 | Max: 10
Partly Cloudy
Min: -3 | Max: 10
Partly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 11
Partly Cloudy
Min: -5 | Max: 11
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 9
Partly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 9
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 8
Partly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 8
Partly Cloudy
Min: -5 | Max: 8
Partly Cloudy
Min: -2 | Max: 10
Partly Cloudy
Min: -4 | Max: 9
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -5 | Max: 8
Partly Cloudy
Min: -4 | Max: 10
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -6 | Max: 8
Partly Cloudy
Min: -4 | Max: 9
BULGARIA IN PICTURES
Which world-famous Bulgarian artist designed QSL cards for Radio Bulgaria?
Yasen Gyuzelev
Theodore Ushev
Christo Javacheff - Christo
Ilia Peikov
Lika Yanko

BULGARIANS ABROAD

Български English Русский Deutsch Српски Français Ελληνικά Español Shqip Türkçe Română
MOST VIEWED

Orthodox Church honors the memory of St. Clement of Ohrid

On November 25, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church honours the memory of St. Clement of Ohrid – a distinguished archbishop, teacher and scholar. He was among..

published on 11/25/24 9:10 AM

english@bnr.bg

+359 2 9336 661

Общи условия за използване на сайта | Политика за поверителност | Политика за "бисквитки"