Jordan Day - Epiphany

Name days and name names of Yordanovden:

Bancho, Bistra, Bogdan, Bogdana, Bogolyub, Bogolyuba, Bogomil, Bojan, Bojana, Bozhidar, Bozhidara, Bozhil, Boncho, Borislav, Borislava, Boyan, Boyana, Danka, Danko, Dancho, Jordan, Jordana, Jordanka, Nayden, Theodosius

The day is celebrated on January 6 and is associated with the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist. The holiday is named so because on this day everyone who wants to be healthy during the year bathes or at least washes in the river. The holiday marks the end of the so-called "dirty days".

Customs

On Jordan Day, a cross is ritually thrown into a pool of water, and men jump into the icy waters to retrieve it. On this day, tradition dictates after the ritual water baptism, for the priest to throw the cross into the river or into the sea, where the assembled men should rush in to take it. The one who took out the cross will be healthy and happy throughout the year.

If the cross thrown into the water freezes, it portends health and great prosperity. If the weather is cold and dry, it is taken as a sign of a fertile and good year. Finally, the priest sprinkles people with a bunch of basil for health.

In addition to the generally accepted water festival and the wearing of a silver cross for health, the people of Kalofer have been following a unique custom for almost two centuries - the Men's Choir in the waters of the Tundzha River, also known as the Choir of Kalifer voivoda.

A meal

On Jordan Day, the table is lean. Stuffed peppers, cow's milk, cabbage, beans, walnuts, sarmi and others are placed on the table. The ritual bread is made of flour and millet (in some regions they mix corn and wheat flour).

Don't forget the candle lit in the previous festive evenings.

Each of the guests at the table breaks a nut, by the contents of which he guesses whether the year will be healthy and successful - if the nut is whole and healthy, prosperity awaits him, and vice versa - if the nut is moldy, the year will be difficult.