8 Wacky Holiday Traditions Only a Bulgarian Can Understand

3. Bogoyavlenie

#gefenider_m#msk#bogoyavlenie#iordan#2014

A video posted by Michael Gefenider (@mausbest) on Jan 18, 2014 at 11:39pm PST

A bunch of half-naked, grunting men fighting in a frozen river over a wooden cross…no, you’re not watching Troy, just our annual Bogoyavlenie. People seem to forget that the original idea behind this odyssey is to honor the birth of Christ.

4. Trifon Zarezan

Lovech | Ловеч 🌙🌌. Dinner Time 😍😁! #Jarocha #bulgarianfood #BulgarianWine. #ilovefood #food #foodie #FoodArt #foodies #foodpic #foodgasm #foodlover #foodblogger #foodpassion #igfood #igerrak #ig_euskadi #igersgetxo #igersspain #igersbilbao #igerseuskadi #igersveracruZ #somosinstagramers #gorda #fitgirl #fitnessgirl #gymgirl #gymgirls #wine #vino

A photo posted by Diana Ferrao (@dianaferrao) on Jun 22, 2015 at 11:36am PDT

Move over, Cupid, and someone pass me another glass of vino. My liver loathes the date February 14, but would you be able to resist a day-long, full out bacchanal in the woods? Trifon Zarezan, our official “wine day” is arguably the happiest holiday in the entire year and often other liquors sneak onto the table too, so some might call it our “alcohol worship day” instead.

5. Proshki

@dessi005 our Mom has taught us well. Managed to pull off the 12 vegan dishes. The Bulgarian tradition is well and living. Miss you @dessi005 😘. #christmaseve #christmasfood #christmasmeal #bulgarianfood #bulgarianchristmas #bulgariantradition #food #foodstagram #foodphotography #yum #yummy #feedme #bulgaria #bulgarian #simple #tasty #коледа #българия #homemade #homemadefood #feast #dinner

A photo posted by Miglena (@migla24) on Dec 24, 2014 at 8:52pm PST

So many fiascos have come out of this one, like that time my parents accidentally let it slip that their krustnitsi had separated, while I was home visiting from college…mom and dad had a good reason to ask for proshki that day. The tradition of asking your best man and his family for forgiveness started many years ago and nowadays, since we don’t really ask for forgiveness anymore, we use it as an occasion to catch up on everything and sip on wine with meze.

6. Lazarov den

#bulgarianclothes #Bulgatia#bulgariantradition #nosia#носия#lazarki#lazarovden

A photo posted by Darina (@stanoilowa) on Apr 11, 2015 at 6:22am PDT

We’re hunting hard-boiled eggs like they’re Faberge and I’ve got the most of all the lazarki. Celebrating St. Lazar, while collecting eggs from friends and neighbors, is a way to nurture friendships and get our protein on.

7. Baba Marta

Vihren (2914m, left) and Kutelo (2908m, right), view from #Todorka peak (2746m), mount #Pirin, #Bulgaria. Sep 15 2011 #traditions #babaMarta #martenica #Пирин #Тодорка #България #martenici #мартеници

A photo posted by Adore Pirin 🌄 🌅 🚴 🍄 ⛺ 🌍 🌠📐 💓 (@real.admirer) on Aug 20, 2015 at 4:32pm PDT

My wrist is all decked out in martenitsi and it’s weighing me down, so I’m going on a quest to see a flying stork so I can get rid of them all. The 1st of March is perhaps our most internationally-popular holiday. It’s when we wear bracelets made of red-and-white string for the entire month of March, or until we see a stork, in the hopes of attracting good health and professional success. Totally makes sense, we know.

8. Rose day

Bulgaria a.k.a. the land of the tall brunettes #TravelBulgaria #bulgariangirl

A photo posted by Adriana – Private Tour Guide (@privateguidebulgaria) on Sep 22, 2015 at 11:46pm PDT

Roses are red, violets are blue, some maslodaina roses get bottled, some get eaten, too! Becoming the “queen” of the rose parade in the Karlovo and Kazanlak valleys grants eternal fame. So good luck, ladies. We are absolutely infatuated with our fragrant rose and take an entire day to appreciate it through carnivals, pageants and displays of rose products — from rose balms, to face lotions and foods — we Bulgarians are grateful for our booming rose industry.