[size=75:3snyrsfb]novinite 6 January 2010

Bulgarians Celebrate St Jordan's Day Diving in Ice-Cold Waters

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In the coldest of winter, young men all over Bulgaria are to jump into the waters of rivers and lakes this Wednesday, keeping an old tradition in commemoration of St Jordan's Day.

The main ritual is performed by a priest who throws a cross into a river or a lake for young men to catch it. It is believed that the first person that gets to the cross will enjoy good health throughout the whole year.

Since so many Bulgarians are named Yordan, Ivan or various derivatives, the holiday is very popular in the country, all the more so that it comes just days after the particularly demanding New Year celebrations and St Basil's day.

For the Western church January 6 is the Epiphany holiday, a Christian feast commemorating the revelation of Jesus to humanity, specifically the visit of the Magi.

For Orthodox Christians this is the day when John the Baptist baptized God's son Jesus Christ in the waters of the Jordan River and the Holy Spirit came to him as a white dove.

In Bulgaria the festival has different names in the different parts of the country, some of them are Krastovden (Day of the Cross) or Voditzi (Waters). The night before St. Jordan's Day is the last one of the "
incensed"
nights.

A solemn ceremony of consecrating Bulgaria's colors will gather statesmen, defense and municipal officials and MPs on Alexander Nevsky square in Sofia on January 6.

The religious-military ritual is believed to bring health and success to the whole nation and was first performed for Bulgaria's warriors in 917 AD.

This year it will be Yoan of Znepole Joan who will perform the water-blessing-of-the-colours service.

God that must have been cold ? rather them than me

Got to admire their bravery,i could not do that for anything,certanly not pleasurable is it



Mike

so brave of them I cant join them as my swimsuit is still in England


Hev

Ha ha you could have got one in Bulgaria I read this then looked at the pic and they must not only be breave but from another planet and I say that with respect, but you have to admire them

Yes Sarah I agree, you are right and yes I do admire the bravery,

Well as you all say BRAVE or mad

In the coldest of winter, young men all over Bulgaria are to jump into the waters of rivers and lakes this Thursday, keeping an old tradition in commemoration of St Jordan's Day.

The main ritual is performed by a priest who throws a cross into a river or a lake for young men to catch it. It is believed that the first person that gets to the cross will enjoy good health throughout the whole year.

Since so many Bulgarians are named Yordan, Ivan or various derivatives, the holiday is very popular in the country, all the more so that it comes just days after the particularly demanding New Year celebrations and St Basil's day.

For the Western church January 6 is the Epiphany holiday, a Christian feast commemorating the revelation of Jesus to humanity, specifically the visit of the Magi.

For Orthodox Christians this is the day when John the Baptist baptised God's son Jesus Christ in the waters of the Jordan River and the Holy Spirit came to him as a white dove.

In Bulgaria the festival has different names in the different parts of the country, some of them are Krastovden (Day of the Cross) or Voditsi (Waters). The night before St. Jordan's Day is the last one of the "
incensed"
nights.

A solemn ceremony of consecrating Bulgaria's colours will gather statesmen, defence and municipal officials and MPs on Alexander Nevsky square in Sofia on January 6.

The religious-military ritual is believed to bring health and success to the whole nation and was first performed for Bulgaria's warriors in 917 AD.

So, so sensible

I tried that some years ago. I got a pneumonia after that

[size=55:1sluq9ve]novinite

Bulgarians Celebrate St Jordan's Day




In the cold of winter, young men all over Bulgaria are to jump into the waters of rivers and lakes this Friday, keeping an old tradition in commemoration of St Jordan's Day.

The main ritual is performed by a priest who throws a cross into a river or a lake for young men to catch it. It is believed that the first person that gets to the cross will enjoy good health throughout the whole year.

Since so many Bulgarians are named Yordan, Ivan or various derivatives, the holiday is very popular in the country, all the more so that it comes just days after the particularly demanding New Year celebrations and St Basil's day.

For the Western church January 6 is the Epiphany holiday, a Christian feast commemorating the revelation of Jesus to humanity, specifically the visit of the Magi.

For Orthodox Christians this is the day when John the Baptist baptized God's son Jesus Christ in the waters of the Jordan River and the Holy Spirit came to him as a white dove.

In Bulgaria the festival has different names in the different parts of the country, some of them are Krastovden (Day of the Cross) or Voditsi (Waters). The night before St. Jordan's Day is the last one of the "
incensed"
nights.

A solemn ceremony of consecrating Bulgaria's colors will gather statesmen, defense and municipal officials and MPs on Alexander Nevsky square in Sofia on January 6.

The religious-military ritual is believed to bring health and success to the whole nation and was first performed for Bulgaria's warriors in 917 AD.

This must take some guts to do this especially if your a bloke if you know what I mean :LMHO:I'm sure it reaches the parts that other liquids don't

Blink wrote:

This must take some guts to do this especially if your a bloke if you know what I mean :LMHO:I'm sure it reaches the parts that other liquids don't

I am sure that some Rakia would reinstate any shortcomings!!

[size=45:7erj6m5z]novinite

Bulgarians Celebrate Epiphany Diving in Ice-Cold Waters



In the cold of winter, young men all over Bulgaria are to jump into the waters of rivers and lakes Sunday, keeping an old tradition in celebration of the Christian Orthodox feast of Epiphany.

On this day, known also as St Jordan's, Orthodox Christians celebrate the baptism of Christ by John the Baptist in the river Jordan, seen as his appearance to the world (epiphany) as the Son of God.

The characteristic Bulgarian St Jordan's ritual is performed by a priest who throws a cross into a river or a lake for young men to catch it. It is believed that the first person that gets to the cross will enjoy good health throughout the whole year.

Since so many Bulgarians are named Yordan, Ivan or various derivatives, the holiday is very popular in the country, all the more so that it comes just days after the particularly demanding New Year celebrations and St Basil's day.

Western churches January 6 also celebrate the Epiphany holiday as a Christian feast commemorating the revelation of Jesus to humanity, but stress not on his baptism, but rather on the visit of the Magi.

In Bulgaria the festival has different names in the different parts of the country, some of them are Krastovden (Day of the Cross) or Voditsi (Waters). The night before St. Jordan's Day is the last one of the "
incensed"
nights.

Solemn ceremonies of consecrating Bulgaria's colours will gather statesmen, defence and municipal officials at various locations in the country Sunday.

The religious-military ritual is believed to bring health and success to the whole nation and was first performed for Bulgaria's warriors in 917 AD.