ST. IGNATIUS’ DAY

Ignatius’ Day is a sort of Bulgarian New Year’s Day. According to a popular folk belief, the winter sun begins to shrink and disappear after Ignatius’ Day, so as to make room for the summer sun. The day begins to grow faster, resembling “a rooster jumping onto the sill”. People light fires on the ground to help the sun shine brighter, and it is believed that the flames will purify and protect humans from all evil. Fire connects the earth to the celestial solar world. All the rituals of this holiday have a magical meaning. People use gestures and words to show to the forces of the afterlife what it is that they want to experience. These forces are supposedly very close by during the holidays. A strict fast is observed