29 August – commemoration of St. John the Baptist

On August 29, the Orthodox church commemorates the day on which St. John the Baptist died – the day, on which his head was cut off. This day is also known as Seknovenie (from seka – “cut” in Bulgarian), because on this day people believe that the day and night are cut by half – they become equal. On this day, waters and the weather start getting colder, therefore noone should bathe into rivers. Seknovenie is also considered a “bad day”, on which people should not work or start anything new. It is forbidden to eat red fruit (water melons, apples, tomatoes) and to drink red wine. It is written in the passional of the Saint that he was beheaded by the will of queen Irodiata, who was reproached by the Saint for marrying her husband’s brother. The disciples of St. John buried his body, leaving his head as a relic. Constantine the Great moved the relic to the town of Emesa. Later on, it was moved to Halcidon, Constantinople and Komana.