Bulgarians mark Orthodox feast of Epiphany

(6 Jan 2017)

Thousands of young men are plunging into icy rivers and lakes across Bulgaria to retrieve crucifixes thrown by clergymen in an old ritual marking the Orthodox feast of Epiphany.
By tradition, a wooden cross is cast into the water and it is believed that the person who retrieves it will be freed from evil spirits.
After the cross is fished out, the priest sprinkles the congregation with water using a bunch of basil.
Epiphany is held every year on 6 January and marks the end of the 12 days of Christmas.
In the mountain city of Kalofer, in central Bulgaria, some 200 men in traditional dress waded into the icy Tundzha River with national flags.
Braving sub-zero temperatures and inspired by the music of a folk orchestra and by homemade hot red wine, they danced a slow "mazhko horo," or men's dance, stomping on the rocky riverbed.
Led by the town's mayor and several bass drummers and bagpipers, the men danced for nearly half an hour, up to their waists in the cold water, pushing away chunks of ice floating on the river.
This year, Kalofer will apply before the UN cultural agency UNESCO this traditional ritual to be inscribed as part of the "intangible cultural heritage of humanity."

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...