Celebrating Ivanovden: The Name Day That Lights Up Bulgaria
Bulgaria observes Ivanovden, or St. John’s Day, on January 7, one of the country’s significant traditional holidays marking the feast of St. John the Baptist
Bulgarians Celebrate St. John the Baptist's Day
Society | January 7, 2011, Friday // 08:07
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The Day of St. John the Baptist is known as Ivanovden in Bulgaria.
For Bulgarian Orthodox Christians, January 7 is the day for honoring St. John the Baptist who baptized Jesus Christ in the Jordan River.
Some 300 000 Bulgarians with the second most popular Bulgarian name - "Ivan" - are celebrating Friday their name day, together with Ivanka, Ivana, Ivaylo, Ivelina, Yoan, Yoana, Kaloyan, Vanyo, Vana, among others.
On Ivanovden, according to past Bulgarian customs, at early dawn young women brought water from a river or a well. In a large caldron, referred to as "chebar", they bathed the children for health. The young couples, who had married in the winter before St. John's Day, were also given a bath in this "chebar".
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