St. Atanasius' Day

Some days ago, we were pleasantly surprised by the blooms of one of the first January flowers, the snowdrop:

This flower is related to St. Athanasius’ Day (18th January), a Bulgarian holiday. A Thracian legend tells that on this day, St. Tanas puts on a silk shirt, climbs to a high place and yells, "Go away, Winter, so that Summer may come!". Part of the tradition is also to pick up blooming hellebore and snowdrops in the morning, as well as meet the sunrise, as it is believed that upon seeing the people, the sun would grant them health and long life.

Saint Tanas is a patron of blacksmiths. In pagan mythology, he is the heavenly blacksmith, who reaches into his furnace to bring out the blazing sun every morning. The name Atanas comes from Old Greek "Athanasios", which means "eternal life".

We are currently preparing a text about the Bulgarian rose and the Rose festival in Bulgaria, expect to see it soon!