A day after St. Lazar's Day and a week before Easter people celebrate the solemn welcoming ceremony of Jesus in Jerusalem. The road in front of the Savior has been covered by olive, palm and willow twigs and flowers. Every Christian family goes to the church on this day carrying flowers and willow twigs. They leave the ones they have brought to the church and take from the sanctified ones from the church. Then they take the twigs and flowers home and put them on their icons and above the doors. The ritual of "kumichene" is performed on this day. This is the last of the "lazarski" rituals. Early in the morning the lazarki go to the river. They carry with themselves flowers, willow and a small loaf of bread in the shape of a child. They line up along the river bank and let their bunches and breads flow. The ones that come first determine who the "kumitza" will be and the others pay respect to her. Before letting their bunches in the river the unmarried girls dance and sing special songs of love, marriage and happiness. After that they make swings and each goes on the swing. According to the Bulgarian beliefs the flowers are symbols of the spring and the beauty. Vrabnitza or Tzvetnitza is a big holiday. Everyone named after a tree or a flower celebrate their name's day such as: Violeta, Jasmin, Margarita, Nevena, Roza, Tzvetan, Varban, Yavor, Kalina and many others.More about 'Traditions' : |
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Traditions