Midsummer: customs, table and namesakes

On June 24 we celebrate Midsummer. The Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates the birth of St. John the Baptist.

Midsummer Nouns:

Encho, Enyo, Dayan, Diana, Denitsa, Dilyan, Dilyana, Diyan/Dian, Diyana/Diana, Deyan/Dean/Deya/Dea, Deyana/Deana, Bilyan, Bilyana and herb names

According to the beliefs of this day, the length of the day begins to decrease. There is also a belief that on the night before Midsummer, where there is a buried treasure, a blue flame comes out of the ground and shines brightly.

Customs

According to the people, on New Year's Day the distant beginning of winter begins - they say "Enyo put on his coat to go for snow". It is believed that on the morning of the holiday, when it rises, the Sun "twinkles", "plays", and whoever sees this will be healthy during the year.

Everyone watches their shadow. If it appears without a head, or in half, this portends an illness. On the night of the dying and rising sun, various grasses and herbs acquire the greatest healing power, which disappears with its rising. For this reason, on New Year's Day, early in the morning, maidens and women, fortune tellers and sorcerers pick herbs that they use for healing and spells throughout the year. During this night, the waters also acquire magical power. According to beliefs, the water in the rivers and wells on this day is healing because the sun bathed in it.

On Midsummer's Eve, like New Year's, fortune-telling is done for health, marriage and fertility. New Year's fortune-telling is carried out in the custom of singing over a ring (or wrist), which resembles the CHARGING, and in South-Eastern Bulgaria and in some regions of North-Eastern Bulgaria, fortune-telling unfolds in the custom of New Year's bully.

It is believed that on Midsummer, various grasses and herbs have the greatest healing power, especially at sunrise. Therefore, it is best to pick them early in the morning before sunrise.