Imported cheeses

Sirni Zagovezni is always celebrated on Sunday, seven weeks (49 days) before Easter. It is the last day before Great Lent in which foods of animal origin, such as cheese, milk, eggs, etc., can be eaten.

Customs

A fire is lit on Sirni Zagovezni, which is believed to burn the evil spirits with it. Fire is jumped for health and luck. The onkaliya (burnt kache with tar), oratniki (split wood with straw on it that is burned) and oruglici (tarred basket) are lit and rotated, the children and youth perform a ritual cleansing of the fields, to bring great blessings .

After the fire, the younger ones ask the elders for forgiveness. Through this custom, the aim is to restore good relations if they have said bad words to each other during the year, to purify a person and become better and more forgiving. They kiss their parents' hand and say "Forgive me, baby, dad...", and they reply "Just be nice to you!" May God forgive."

In Southern Bulgaria, Staroplanin and Midnegors villages, the "oratnik" and "orata kopata" customs have been preserved. A large tree called oratnik is placed in the fire. Even before the day is celebrated, bachelors make arrows from sticks and practice throwing them a long distance using a makeshift bow. When on Poklady they light the oratnik on some hill near the village or in the village itself, everyone tries to throw his burning arrow into the yard of the girl he likes.

The custom of "hamkane" is also performed. A boiled peeled egg, a piece of white halva or coal is tied to a thread suspended from a ceiling beam above the table. The thread is spun in a circle and each member of the family, mainly the children, tries to catch the egg (halva, coal) with their mouth.

A very good time to start a cycle of 7 consecutive days with the magic meditation Clearing negative experiences and forgiveness