By tradition on Epiphany, January 6, a cross is thrown in the icy waters of a river, lake or in sea waters, and young men dive in a race to retrieve it. The man who grabs the cross will be healthy and happy throughout the year. By baptizing water the world is injected with new value and power. This is the end of the “dirty days”, as evil forces are banished and defeated, according to traditional beliefs.

On this day the town of Kalofer becomes the scene of an exclusive male chain dance in the waters of the River Tundzha. This year, early in the morning, a row threatened to mar the otherwise joyous occasion. About 8 am when the Orthodox priest was expected to throw the cross in Tundzha and men had to begin the chain dance singing the song Zalyubila e Vasilka Dvama (Vasilka Fell in Love with Two Guys) there was negative energy around and tensions occurred. The Kalofer men got angry that another group of men – from another town in Bulgaria, entered the river first. There was a bit of squabbling. The positive emotions of the locals prevailed though, and Kalofer men entered the river to perform the ancient rite.

Young men from Blagoevgrad were also dancing dressed in folk costumes, in the River Bistritsa. In 2015 they went to see the rite in Kalofer and decided to transfer it to Blagoevgrad. 21-year-old IT student Yordan Bogoev took the Epiphany cross from the river. He was lucky to do so on his name day – Yordan (Jordan) is a name celebrated on Epiphany. Hundreds watched the ceremony and many kissed the cross retrieved by Yordan.

A record was set in Sinemorets on the Black Sea as 90-year-old fisherman Yanko Yankov jumped into the sea to join the Epiphany Cross race. He was formerly a military pilot and it took him a few days to prepare for the jump. He even stopped smoking for a while. Local government officials in several villages were active in the race as well.

Swimmer Svetlin Ivanov from Silistra took out the Epiphany Cross from the Danube for a 15th consecutive time which is a record. He has been the Silistra race’s unchallenged fastest swimmer all those years.

In Kyustendil 18 young guys joined the rite under the accompaniment of the Municipal Brass Band. An isolated pool was formed under the iron bridge of Banshtitsa River where the race was held.

Driver Stoyan Ganev, 38, grabbed the cross in Plovdiv. He is from the town of Haskovo and jumped in the icy water for a fifth year. This time he was lucky. The festive mood in Plovdiv was slightly marred by rumors that some of the young guys had drunk more alcohol than needed to warm up for the race.

Antoniy Antonov, 25, retrieved the Epiphany Cross in Sliven. He is keen on wrestling fitness. This has been his first jump – in the bed of Novoselska River. For about 10 minutes the young men danced shouting Long Live Bulgaria. They wished health and luck during the New Year to all Bulgarians.

In Varna the cross was thrown in the Black Sea and retrieved by Angelo Dimitrov. He jumped for the 8th time in the traditional race but won for the third time. The race in the Black Sea off Varna was joined by 46 men. The fight was short, and the wooden cross was saved fast.  

Epiphany Cross celebrations near the South Pole

Early in the morning on Epiphany a new group of the Bulgarian Antarctic expedition reached the island of Livingstone on board the Spanish ship Hesperides. Despite the stormy sea with 4-meter waves the nine pole explorers landed successfully on the island using inflatable boats to the enjoyment of the expedition whose vanguard group has been at the St. Kliment Ohridski polar base for two months now.

On Epiphany a water blessing ritual is held for the military flags and the venerated historic flags of the Bulgarian Army. The Epiphany water blessing took place across all Bulgarian Army garrisons. Water consecration of military flags was first served during the reign of Simeon the Great ahead of the glorious battle at Aheloy in 917. Until Bulgaria was conquered by the Ottoman Empire every battle of the Bulgarian Army was preceded by water-blessing. After the Liberation in 1878 the tradition was resumed.

On Epiphany, 6 January, traditionally called Yordanovden, 151,852 Bulgarians celebrated their name days. They are named Yordan and Yordanka (derivatives of Jordan) and other related names. According to the National Statistics at the end of 2015 men named Yordan were 79,354, and women with the female version of the name were 72,498.

English Daniela Konstantinova