Spectacular Horse Races Mark Bulgarian Holiday Todorovden

Society | February 24, 2007, Saturday // 00:00
Bulgaria: Spectacular Horse Races Mark Bulgarian Holiday Todorovden The horses??™ owners had to put all their efforts to adorn their animals as the best looking one stands great chances of wining the hearts of the audience. Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia Photo Agency)

All over the country, Bulgarians marked the holiday, known as Todorovden (the day of Todor or Theodor), which is also called the Horse Easter.

The Ortodox Church celebrates the day the first Saturday of the Easter Fast.

The legend tells on this day Saint Todor Tirone dressed himself in nine furs and went to God to beg him for the summer to come. In connection with the image the people have created of the saint, horse races are held all over Bulgaria.

The fastest and best looking horse is decorated with wreaths and heads first to the village, where a lass or a newly-wed woman is expecting it. In the house of the horse owner a celebration starts. On the day, women bake and give ritual loaves, named "horse" or "hoof", the dough shaped like a horse or a hoof. The bread is given to neighbors and relatives to keep their horses healthy and strong during the year.

The holiday is a mixture of Orthodox religious beliefs and pagan rituals. Nevertheless it is always thrilling to watch the horse races during the day outside the city.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!

Society » Be a reporter: Write and send your article

Advertisement
Advertisement
Bulgaria news Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) is unique with being a real time news provider in English that informs its readers about the latest Bulgarian news. The editorial staff also publishes a daily online newspaper "Sofia Morning News." Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) and Sofia Morning News publish the latest economic, political and cultural news that take place in Bulgaria. Foreign media analysis on Bulgaria and World News in Brief are also part of the web site and the online newspaper. News Bulgaria