Todor’s day

The first Saturday of the Long Lent celebrates the honour of martyr Theodore Tiron – it is Todor’s day. The legend tells, that the Saint appeared to Evdoksii, archbishop of Constantinopolis, to prevent the Christians from the insidious plan of emperor Julian the Renegade to sprinkle all their Lenten fare at the market with blood so that he could desecrate their strict fast. In iconography St. Theodore is depicted as a white horse rider and dragon fighter. It is a feast of the horses and hence its other name - Horse Easter. In the very early morning mothers bath their children so that they do not have headache and to keep them healthy. Before dawn women bake ritual bread in the shape of little horse or horseshoe, which they give away. On Todor’s day kushii (horse races) are organized - a traditional competition in which all the people take part. Men would fig up in their new shirts, clean their horses, beautify them, and take them out to the race. The champions were awarded with bridles or headgears. The winner visited all the houses to greet the hosts with the holiday.
Todor's day is the name day of Todor, Todorka, Theodore, Theodora, and the ritual table includes yeast bread, lentil and mushroom soup.