Ilyinden in Bulgaria

Cheverme - roasting a ram on a spitThe festival of Ilyinden is dedicated to the Old Testament prophet Ilya, who, in order to turn his people away from the pagan worship of Baal, performed a number of miracles, the most striking of which is the attraction of grace-filled rain after several years of drought.

According to the Bulgarian Orthodox calendar, Ilyinden falls at the height of summer. It is believed that by this day the bread should be collected from the fields. Still, however, there is a collection of technical crops and feed for livestock - corn, barley, sunflower. In the grape arrays, vines binding is coming to an end - the last operation before harvesting grapes. Thus, Ilyinden marks a short respite in the summer pain.

In Bulgaria, the prophet Ilya is revered as the lord of the heavenly elements. In ancient times it was believed that thunder thunder thunder, because the prophet Elijah in his chariot chases horses. If the summer was dry, then in Ilyinden necessarily served water light to rain.

On this day in the villages prepare "Kurban" - hammer a ram or an ox and roast it on a spit. It's called Cheverme. Soup is usually made from giblets (kurban chorba). The preparation of these dishes sometimes takes place in the courtyard of the church, while a festive service is held inside. In some cases, cooking goes on a special glade near the village. Soup and meat are consecrated by the priest. Part of the food goes to treat the poor and needy. But usually this holiday gathers all the villagers.

In many Bulgarian villages, folk rural festivals are planned to Ilyinudnya (in Bulgarian "collections"). Then usually relatives gather and meetings of representatives of the childbirth are arranged. In addition to cattle, the oldest rooster in the chicken coop is sometimes slaughtered.