Forgiveness Sunday

They ask their parents for forgiveness.The Forgiven Resurrection or, as it is called in Bulgaria, “Proshka” or “Sirni Zagovezni”, precedes the beginning of Lent before Easter.

A week before the "Pashka" begins the procession of cookers - dressed as animals or under traditional images (old woman, priest, tax collector, tsar). Their images must be fearful, so that all impure forces will rush away from their dance. Cookers dance drives away winter, promotes fertility and health. Usually to the belt of the cookers attach heavy copper rattles, which when shaking emit a characteristic sound. The total weight of the cooker equipment sometimes reaches 25-30 kg or more.

On the day of "Proshka" people usually gather in a family way. The young ask their parents for forgiveness for their offenses in the year, and they are willing to forgive them: “God forgives!” The table is usually served with a layered threshold (banitsa) and white halva with nuts.

For children, a special competition is arranged - "hamkaniye": a piece of halva or a steeply boiled egg (without skin) is tied on a long thread above the table and it is set to move in a circle. Whoever catches an egg with his mouth first (without the help of his hands) will be lucky all year. Then the thread is set on fire and by how it burns, guess about the harvest and the weather this year.

In the evening of the same day, a large bonfire is lit (dry bitches and grass were collected for him throughout the previous week) and then boys and girls jump over it. It is believed that after the jump, the fire burns the evil that has haunted us all winter.