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

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

One of the frequent questions that people ask themselves is

What are the customs of St. Peter's Day? Besides Peter, which other namesakes draw on this great Bulgarian holiday? When is Saint Peter's Day?? We have collected answers to these questions in this article:

Each year on June 29 we celebrate St. Peter's Day.

St. Peter's Day Names:

Peter, Petya, Pavlina, Polina, Kamen, Pavel

The Orthodox Church commemorates Saints Peter and Paul. According to popular belief, Christ's apostles are not only brothers, but also twins. Saint Peter was honored with a high office, namely, to guard the gates of heaven, judging whether to let a person's soul into it or to send him to hell. He weighed good deeds against human sins, and was unforgiving even to his own mother, whom he sent to hell, as her bad deeds on Earth proved to outweigh the good she had done in her lifetime.

Peter's Day Customs

St. Peter's Day is preceded by a two-week St. Peter's fast that begins the first week after Pentecost.

According to an old Bulgarian tradition, on this day every home sacrifices the youngest Peter's chicken in the name of the saint. The traditional "white man" or "kutmach" is also placed on the table - a dish typical of the holiday, prepared from beaten fresh cheese, which is fried with flour. The hostess also prepares a festive pogacha, butter and cheese pie, and pumpkin pie.

Apples - petrovki and ritual kolak are brought to the church to be consecrated by the priest, after which they are distributed for health. This custom is particularly strictly observed by families in which there is a deceased child and is connected with popular beliefs about the Garden of Eden.

Peter's Day Meal:

As we have already mentioned, on this day Peter's fast ends, therefore chicken must be present on the table. Ritual bread is prepared - kolak, which is brought to church to be consecrated. Early apples, called petrovki, are also brought there.