ST.ELIJAH’S DAY

In Bulgaria the prophet Elijah is considered to be the ruler of the sky and the heavenly forces. He is considered the master of thunder and lightning, of heavenly moisture and rain, and the well-being of the Earth is dependent on him. The oldest rooster is sacrificed in honor of the saint. Folk traditions forbid people from bathing in the sea and rivers on Elijah’s Day, as it is thought that St. Elijah loves “sacrificing” and “eating” humans on this day.

The day is the patron day of furriers, tailors and coat-makers.

Theologians believe that the ideation of the saint still bears remnants of pagan cults to Perun by the Slavs, to Zeus by the Thracians and to Tangra by the proto-Bulgarians.