Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

It is Enyovden (Midsummer)

Photo: BGNES-archive

Enyovden (Midsummer's Day) is one of the most beloved holidays in the folk calendar of Bulgarians, which has deep roots in our traditions, thinking, and beliefs. It has a fixed date - always it is marked on June 24. It is also called St. John of the Summer, because on the same date the Orthodox Church honours the birth of St. John the Baptist.

According to popular belief, on Midsummer's Day the path of the sun from winter to summer ends and it takes the opposite course - from summer to winter. And on the night before the holiday the skies open, the stars descend to the earth and enchant grasses and flowers, giving them a healing power. The waters are also granted , because the sun bathes for the last time before it sets. That is why even today, in the early morning of Midsummer's Day, people ritually bathe in rivers and lakes.


The holiday was once accompanied by special songs for every moment of the practiced rituals and ceremonies - from gathering herbs in the early morning, to the singing of folk songs and the cheerful youth jokes at dusk.

More about them in Radio Bulgaria’s Editor’s picks.




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Embroidery festival presents the traditions of this craft in the village of Vardim

A three-day embroidery festival takes place in the square of the village of Vardim near Svishtov, the organizers reported. At its core, the festival promotes a particularly colorful part of our lifestyle and traditions -..

published on 7/27/24 8:45 AM

Ribaritsa hosts folklore festival

Fans of Bulgarian folklore are getting together in the village of Ribaritsa near Teteven on 20 and 21 July for the 3 rd national festival and the 16 th edition of the festival of folklore of national customs and authentic traditional costumes in a..

published on 7/20/24 8:55 AM

Participants of the International Folklore Festival in Veliko Tarnovo will go on parade

Nearly 340 participants from countries on different continents will take the stage at the Summer Theatre in Marno Pole Park in Veliko Tarnovo to present the their folklore traditions.  The start is today, 20 July, when the traditional..

published on 7/20/24 6:15 AM