Enyovden (Midsummer’s Eve)

On June 24, Bulgarians traditionally celebrate Enyovden. This religious holiday coincides with the summer solstice, therefore many local believes and traditions are related to the sun. According to popular belief, from this day on, the sun starts to die, and the year starts to move towards winter. Before taking its long winter road, the sun stops for a rest, and, bathed in “living water”, rises very early in the morning, in order to say goodbye to the world, which it is not to see until next year. People believe that on Enyovden all herbs and grasses gain extraordinary healing power. Therefore, it is especially suitable to pick herbs early in the morning, before the sun has shone. Legends talk of wizards, who roved around the fields in search of plant roots, which had the magical power to bring lovers together and to separate them. There are some obligatory rituals to be performed on Enyovden: everyone should take a ritual bath, which is believed to drive all sicknesses away. Another thing girls do is they weave flowers into a garland, through which all people thread for health. Traditionally, herbs for the winter are gathered, which should be 77 and a half in number. 77 are for those diseases which can be cured, and the half – for the half desease that cannot be healed. In the Orthodox church, Enyovden is related to the birth of St. John the Baptizer.