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Magic acts and rituals on the verge of the new year

The Bulgarian society has kept a number of ancient feasts, which were used by their predecessors to attract the good energies to protect them. Some of these feasts are common even nowadays. They combine elements from the past and the present life and culture of the Bulgarians.

The traditional winter feasts of the patriarchal community once covered a long period of time. People had a reason to celebrate each week or even several times a week- starting form the last days of November all the way to the start of the Easter fasting. In a folklore language this means a time for magical rituals, which literally covered all human activities-from fishing to bee keeping, from the acts directed to the fertility of the crops- to the mystery of the human birth. When people were not engaged with agricultural activities, they used to focus on another type of work, where they relied on the power of the rituals and the old traditions, which was carried over the centuries. All deeds in this period are lined to the so-called First Day magic, which was called upon to collect positive energy and good wishes, enough to cover the whole year and guarantee a steady flow of the life and the business cycle.

St Ignatius Day, Christmas and St Basil’s Day are 3 different feasts. However, in a sense they are 3 different names of the beginning and the first day. People celebrate these days from time immemorial. St Ignatius Day (marked on December 20) is very close to the winter equilibrium. Then, according to the most ancient cult on our lands, a new sun is born. Christmas Eve and Christmas day are linked to the birth of the Savior Jesus Christ. The first day of January is associated with the birth of the New Year. This is the day when Bulgarians celebrate the Saint Basil’s Day, which is also a combination of Christian and pre-Christian ritualism. This is the period of the so-called Dirty days ( Poganni days), which start from St Ignatius Day until January 6, known as Epiphany or St Jordan’s Day. According to ancient beliefs, this is a time of chaos and uncertainty, when dark forces bluster and harm people and the nature. Prayers and sacrifice often oppose to these dark forces.

People prepare on all 3 feasts a table full of meals and the oldest person incenses the food. Thus, according to folk beliefs, the food gains a magic power. This is why people pay attention to all details in these traditions. Raw wheat and walnuts are always part of the table prepared on St Ignatius Day. Wheat is also part of the festive table on Christmas Eve as it is believed that it has a magical power. On Christmas morning people feed the animals with some of this wheat. The rest is carefully saved, so it can be used in healing practices through the whole next year. During this festive period people also sanctify pots full of apples, walnuts, wheat, basil, garlic and a reaping-hook so that these representatives of the expected future crop could receive the blessing that comes on Earth during the holy Christmas days and on St Basil’s Day. And when farmers take them to the fields, they leave them there, praying for rich crops.

Bread is honoured highly in all these rituals. On St Ignatius Day and Christmas women knead the dough and go out in the gardens to touch all plants and trees with their hands for fertility. Part of the dough is added to the animal food. On Christmas morning people feed them with some of this food, so it could protect them from deceases and make them fertile. The honey from the festive table as well as the charcoal and the ashes from the festive fireplace are kept for various rituals, which are made to strengthen human body and soul.

Even at present people feed the hens with the incensed wheat on Christmas. The straw they bring home at St Ignatius Day is used for the making of sheaves and garlands, which are later placed on the trees for fertility. Some of the straw is laid in the hens’ nests. Touching an iron-tree, as people call the cornel-tree is also part of the rituals at that time of the year. This tree is resistant to all atmospheric conditions. It is believed that the contact with this tree gives people stamina and good health.

The verbal magic is one of the most common ones during these days, especially in the Christmas blessings. They sound in every Bulgarian home, despite some changes in the tradition over recent years. This is so, because the natural human aspiration for welfare, happiness and security is still alive.