Day of the First Apostles Peter and Paul

"Atsunihua"In the period between the end of Petrovsky Lent (in Abkhazia it is called summer fast) and the beginning of the Assumption Lent, in the tradition of the Abkhazian Church, to make a special prayer for the rain. This Christian rite is called Atsunihua.

“Atsunihua” – like most Abkhazian holidays, originates from paganism. Every year in all villages from mid-June to mid-July (each has its own day), the whole name, family or village is gathered.

As a sacrifice, a bull is cut, homemade wine is extracted, homemade dumplings with cheese are cooked, khachapur is baked, abysta (mamalyga) is cooked. According to tradition, the festival begins with the introductory word of the oldest of the family (surname, village). He holds a nut branch in his hand, on which the heart and liver of the bull are strung, addresses his request-prayer to the Almighty that the harvest is good (everyone asks for rain).

When the holiday is already in full swing, everyone has eaten and raised basic toasts, the youth begins to pour water - have fun, if there is a river or waterfall nearby, everyone rushes there.