published on 30.12.2008, 18:38 Author: BulgariaInside Article rating:
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On January 1, the Orthodox church honors St. Basil of Caesaria, or Basil the Great. He was born in the 330 AD in the Asia Minor town of Caesaria.
As a bishop, Basil helped many people and laid the foundations of charity. He was named Basil the Great while still alive. Basil was also a prophet and managed to predict the date of his own death. On that date, January 1, Christians honor the achievements of the saint.
On January 1, Bulgarians perform a number of rituals. Before dawn, children aged 5 to 12, visit houses and perform sourvakane. They carry cornel-tree sticks decorated with colorful threads and popcorn. The sticks are used to wish people health and good luck.
Fortune telling is also carried out, since the period is considered one of the best of the year for predicting the future.
Dishes prepared for January 1 are diverse and include meat. The dishes that must be present on the table include turkey and jellied pork. Banitsa is also made.
Everyone called Vasil, Vasilka, Veselin and Veselina celebrate their name day on January 1.
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January 1 - St. Basil's Day