ПРОГРАМИ
en de ru fr es sr gr al tr ro
Podcast in English
Share
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Residents of Karaisen celebrate Ivanovden with authentic ritual for chasing away evil

4
Photo: Zdravka Maslyankova, BNR correspondent

With an authentic ritual that has no analogue in Bulgaria, the residents of the village of Karaisen, Northern Bulgaria, celebrate St. John's Day (Ivanovden in Bulgarian). The holiday is called "Ivanovi Vlachugi" (dragging, pulling on Saint John's Day) and has been passed down since time immemorial, and today it is kept by the local village residents, reports BNR correspondent in Veliko Tarnovo Zdravka Maslyankova. 

The name of the ritual comes from the pulling to the water fountain of persons with the name Ivan, maidens and bachelors, as well as all young people who have become families in the previous year. In Karaisen, people believe that "Ivanovi vlachugi" cleanse bad energy and drive away evil, bring health and prosperity to the entire village.

According to museologist Diana Miteva, this tradition comes from the conversion of the Bulgarians to Christianity, which began in 864, because when people were baptized, they were dragged, as it was a forced process. 

The ritual is marked every year. In the past, it was very popular in the entire Veliko Tarnovo region.

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.
Radio Bulgaria Life    Christianity Ivanovden Ivanovi vlachugi Saint John's Day Veliko Tarnovo

Gallery

More from category

70% of all bird species in Europe can be observed in Bulgaria

April 1 was declared International Bird Day in 1906, under the International Convention for the Protection of Birds. The date symbolizes mankind's responsibility for the conservation and preservation of wildlife. Today, 119 years after its..

published on 4/1/25 1:28 PM
Pirin mountain

A promo video introduces Bulgaria to the Middle East and China

A new short film showcasing Bulgaria's natural beauty, resorts and leisure opportunities is set to attract tourists from China and the Middle East. Titled "Bulgaria: A Touch of Nature" and created by Stiliyan Kadrev, the 15-minuteo offers a visual..

published on 3/31/25 3:56 PM

Nayden Gerov’s modern-day followers in the UK

Guided by the idea of preserving the Bulgarian spirit, culture and language, with 35 years of experience as a Bulgarian teacher and having worked in different European countries, in 2017, Iliana Boyajieva Smith founded a Bulgarian school in..

published on 3/30/25 7:10 AM

WEATHER
Pick city: Sofía
Partly Cloudy
Min: 6 | Max: 24
Partly Cloudy
Min: 8 | Max: 20
Partly Cloudy
Min: 7 | Max: 18
Partly Cloudy
Min: 9 | Max: 24
Partly Cloudy
Min: 7 | Max: 21
Partly Cloudy
Min: 8 | Max: 23
Partly Cloudy
Min: 8 | Max: 21
Partly Cloudy
Min: 6 | Max: 21
Partly Cloudy
Min: 7 | Max: 22
Partly Cloudy
Min: 6 | Max: 25
Partly Cloudy
Min: 7 | Max: 21
Partly Cloudy
Min: 6 | Max: 23
Partly Cloudy
Min: 7 | Max: 23
Partly Cloudy
Min: 5 | Max: 21
Partly Cloudy
Min: 8 | Max: 23
Partly Cloudy
Min: 7 | Max: 23
Partly Cloudy
Min: 6 | Max: 21
Partly Cloudy
Min: 8 | Max: 23
Partly Cloudy
Min: 8 | Max: 23
Partly Cloudy
Min: 8 | Max: 22
Partly Cloudy
Min: 5 | Max: 19
Partly Cloudy
Min: 6 | Max: 22
Partly Cloudy
Min: 7 | Max: 23
Partly Cloudy
Min: 6 | Max: 21
Partly Cloudy
Min: 8 | Max: 23
Partly Cloudy
Min: 8 | Max: 22
Partly Cloudy
Min: 8 | Max: 23
BULGARIA IN PICTURES
Which world-famous Bulgarian artist designed QSL cards for Radio Bulgaria?
Yasen Gyuzelev
Theodore Ushev
Christo Javacheff - Christo
Ilia Peikov
Lika Yanko

BULGARIANS ABROAD

Български English Русский Deutsch Српски Français Ελληνικά Español Shqip Türkçe Română
MOST VIEWED

A pink pelican named Stoycho becomes a real attraction for the residents of Varna

A pink pelican has become a real attraction for the residents of Varna. Hundreds of people have spotted it in the area of the Marine Station in the..

published on 4/19/25 7:05 AM

The spiritual messages of the Resurrection through the eyes of a Bulgarian theologian

This year, Orthodox and Catholic Christians will celebrate the Resurrection of Christ togethe r. On the same date, the entire Christian world will turn..

published on 4/19/25 11:15 AM

english@bnr.bg

+359 2 9336 661

Общи условия за използване на сайта | Политика за поверителност | Политика за "бисквитки"