Todorovden – hope for fertility

Happy holiday! May spring blossom in your hearts and bring hope!

Today is Todorovden, a feast day which is always observed on the first Saturday of the Easter Fast.

The day is also known as Todorova Saturday, Horse Easter, Tudoritsa.

According to folk belief, on this day Saint Todor takes off his nine coats, mounts a horse and goes to God to implore Him for summer. For this reason people associate Todorovden primarily with the hope for fertility.

It is marked by a solemn veneration of the horse and horse races – kushii. Hence the name Horse Easter. At sunrise men braid the horses’ tails and manes, decorate them with beads, tassels and flowers and take them to water. The women knead and share ritual breads among themselves, giving some also to the horses. They boil wheat, which is blessed in the church. Then comes the turn of the spectacular horse race – the kushia. The winner is awarded – the horse usually receives a bridle, and its owner – a shirt or a kerchief. The one who has won the race goes around with his horse to all homes to extend festive greetings. Everywhere he is warmly welcomed and his horse is given water to drink. The ritual festive table includes leavened round bread, mushroom soup and “Tudor lentils”.

Today celebrate: Todor, Todorka, Teodor, Teodora.

Photo: “Rositsa” newspaper