HAPPY IGNAZHDEN (St Ignatius Day): 20 December marks the start of the Bulgarian Christmas and New Year celebrations. Its a time to think about the future and prepare for a fruitful year ahead! Lots of rituals are carried out today including first-footing (polyazvan-e) to ensure the fertility of land and animals, particularly hens. In Bulgarian folklore, the mother of god goes into labour today and gives birth on Christmas Eve. Tomorrow its the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, heralding the rebirth of the sun. Ignatius was a Christian martyr who was fed to wild beasts by the Romans in about 108 CE. Image: Orthodox icon of the pregnant Virgin Mary; iconographer and location unknown Source: dogma.gr Image: icon of St Ignatius in the Church of Sveti Sedmochislenitsi, Sofia, Bulgaria Source: pravoslavieto
Posted on: Sat, 20 Dec 2014 13:25:42 +0000
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