The day of Holy Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-bearer

Georgi Georgiev, VisitBulgaria.NET

Today Bulgaria celebrates the Orthodox holiday – the day of Holy Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-bearer. According to the folklore legends the housewives should not sew, wash or knit on this day. The maids and the pregnant women showld not work to give an easy birth.

One of the most important sagas about this holiday says that the New Year depends on the first guest who steps in the house on the day of Holy Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-bearer. If this is a good person full of good thoughts he would give his positive energy to the house and its occupants and the next year would be reach and fertile. The Bulgarians are extremely happy if their first guest is a young, healthy, beautiful and even pregnant woman. It is also said that it is at a venture a man with full cupped hands to be met.

This day is a special holiday for people whose name is “Ignat”. The name originates from the Latin word “Ignatius”, which means “fiery”. That is why people with the Slavonic names “Ognyan” and “Plamen”, “Plamena” which also mean “fiery”, celebrate their name day today, as well.