Babinden (Grandmothers’) day

Bulgarians celebrate the day next to Ivanovden as Grandmothers’ (midwife’s) day. It is also a holiday of the children and the women in childbirth. The traditions of the holiday come from the Slavs’ ages, but is kept today, as it was really reputable during the National Revival. Babinden is also celebrated on January 21 (following the old style in Bulgarian traditions). The holiday is typical for three main rituals: the little children are washed by the grandmothers, which is accompanied by a blessing, and then they are smeared with honey and butter; then the grandmothers make a feast for the young brides; and then the grandmother is ritually washed. All the women to whom the grandmother has assisted in childbirth take place in the celebrations, as well as young wives. In the morning they pour water upon the grandmother to wash and put on her right shoulder, an apron, a towel and socks. For lunch, the women come again, and bring a round loaf, banitsa, roasted hen, and wine, and all this is accompanied by songs, fun and laughter. The holiday ends with washing of the grandmother. The women take the grandmother to the river (or the well), where the make the ritual bathing. All of them are decorated with threads to which are tied red peppers and distaff-full of wool. Men are not allowed to the celebrations. After bathing the grandmother, the women carry her in their arms to her home.