St. John's Day: name names, customs and table

Midsummer Names:

Ivan, Ivanka, Ivanina, Vanina, Banya, Vanyo, Ioan, Ioana, Kaloyan, Yovko, Yovka, Ivaylo, Ivayla, Ivo, Ivona, Jean, Zhana, Yana

The day is celebrated every year on January 7. The day is associated with honoring the memory of St. John the Baptist - the last Old Testament prophet and baptizer of Jesus. John the Baptist is also called "Forerunner" because he went before Christ and prepared people for his birth.

Customs

On this day, married couples visit their godparents, as John the Baptist is considered the patron saint of godparents. Couples exchange gifts and a rich meal is prepared.

As a continuation of St. John's Day, rites related to the healing power of water continue during St. John's Day. Everyone who got married a year ago takes a bath. Brides and grooms must be publicly bathed by the best man or brother-in-law. It is accepted as an element of post-wedding customs that completely closes the circle of the wedding ceremony. The bachelors bathe the maidens, and all namesakes must also bathe.

The "dirty days" have already passed and everyone is looking towards the fulfillment of the omens of health, happiness and prosperity. In South-West Bulgaria, the holiday is also called Women's Waters, as newlyweds and girls up to the age of one are bathed. Young people who want to twin also visit each other, starting from the house of the oldest, where they receive the blessing of his mother. They receive a bunch of ivy and boxwood, tied with red thread and a gold coin.

St. John's Day ends the period in which New Year's masked groups go. In some parts of the country, carolers solemnly bathe the king in the fountain. He prepares a rich meal for them, which is attended by the others disguised as a bear, Arabs and the bride. In order to properly end the entire cycle of the Christmas season, everyone goes out for a festive dance. In different regions, the day is accompanied by horse races, also called Midsummer's Day races. Elsewhere, bachelors dress up in old-time women's clothes, blacken their faces with soot, tease the maidens, and go round the homes.

A meal

on this day, the newlyweds visit the best men and present them with wine, meat, and cows. The traditional table is rich and varied, typical dishes for Midsummer are beans, blood sausage, oshav, sausage and pork with cabbage.