Athanasovden: names, traditions and customs

Athanasovden: names, traditions and customs

On Athanasius Day, the memory of Saint Athanasius the Great is honored. It is celebrated on January 18.

Nouns: Atanas, Atanaska, Nasko, Nasya, Asya, Nastya, Tanyo, Zhivko, Zhivka, Tina, Nancy, Tanko, Tanka, Anya

Customs

Housewives slaughter a black chicken or hen, cook it with rice, then distribute it to relatives, friends and neighbors, calling for health. Their feathers are preserved because, according to folk beliefs, they have healing powers.

In Northwestern Bulgaria, they say that the plague is born on this day, and in order to appease it, food must be distributed for it. 

An old Bulgarian legend tells that St. Anton and St. Athanas were twin brothers - blacksmiths. A long time ago, when blacksmith's tongs had not yet been invented, the two were working in their forge and St. Athanasius reached into the furnace to remove the hot iron with his bare hands. Then he looked at the dog, which was lying next to him with curled paws, and the idea of making pincers modeled on dog's feet came to him. Since then, the two brothers have been considered patrons of the blacksmith craft. At their festival, the blacksmiths give sacrifices of bulls for their patrons.

In folk beliefs, Saint Athanasius is represented as the ruler of snow and ice. It is believed that from this day on, winter starts to go away. Dressed in a silk shirt, he goes to the mountains on his white horse and shouts: "Go away, winter, come, summer!" That's why the holiday is known as "Midwinter".

A meal

 On Athanasovden, as well as on Antonovden, breads smeared with honey, majun or petmez are prepared against diseases and especially against the plague.

    In some areas, in addition to the ritual bread, in order to avoid a plague epidemic, a black hen or a black chicken is slaughtered for sacrifice. They prepare it in different ways - they bake it, boil it, or cook a stew with the meat, but they always give it away. It is believed that "diseases flee from the black chicken" and its feathers have healing power - especially for children who are squirming at night in their sleep. When they distribute the bread and the sacrifice, they say: "May Saint Thanas help!", believing that the saint protects people and domestic animals from deadly diseases.  

    It is believed that after Athanasovden one should not eat pumpkins, so that a person does not suffer from pain and swelling of the stomach.