St. Dimitar’s Day

Dimitrovden (Dimitar’s Day) is in honour of the martyr Dimitar from Thessalonica. He was born in the 3rd century in the times of the last persecutions of the Christians in the Roman Empire. He frankly professed the new religion and for this on 26 October 306, when the Emperor visited Thessalonica, he was thrown in dungeon and speared at the Emperor’s command. After some time believers built a temple over his grave, which had become famous for the miracles it caused. In icon-painting St. Dimitar is presented as a horseman saint, riding a red horse with a spear in his hand, with the one he spears the Roman commander. According to the national celebrations St. Dimitar’s Day is also known as Mitrovden or Razpus. This day marks the end of the summer period and then the shepherds, herdsmen and farm-hand are paid and “liberated”. “St. Dimitar brings winter and St. George – summer.” The Bulgarian saying is that the first snowflakes fall from his beard. With 'Dimitrovden' the season of weddings and engagements starts. Traditionally, a meeting is arranged between the young people of the village with a view to marriage. On 26th October the lads choose their prospective wives from a group of maidens who perform a special national dance called “horo”. On the day of St. Dimitar, name day celebrate all those named Dimitar, Dimitrina, Mitko, Dimo.