In 1994, the chairman of the then Union of Pharmacists in Bulgaria (SFB), mag. Pharm. Borimir Atanasov declares June 24 as the Holiday of Pharmacists and Bulgarian Medicine, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church honors the Birth of St. John the Baptist, and according to the folk calendar - New Year's Day (Bilober) has been considered the strongest day of the year and the most suitable for picking most herbs.
The root of the holiday is connected with Slavic folklore traditions. Astronomically, June 24 is the longest and sunniest day.
On Midsummer, different grasses and herbs have the greatest healing power, it is good to pick them early in the morning before the sun rises. Women – sorcerers, sorcerers, go alone and pick herbs with which they then heal and cast spells. Herbs gathered for the winter should be “77 and a half“ – for all diseases and for “the disease without a name”. From the collected herbs they wrap a wreath through which they all pierce to be healthy throughout the year. 77 and a half healing, magical, love and separation herbs are woven into it, as many as there are human diseases. The New Year's wreath is kept until the following year and its herbs are used to treat people and animals that have fallen ill during the year.
On New Year's Day, the distant beginning of winter begins – it is said “Enyo has put on his coat to walk for snow”. It is believed that on the morning of the holiday, when it rises, the Sun “twinkles“, “plays“ and whoever sees this will be healthy throughout the year. Just at sunrise, everyone should turn to face him and watch his shadow over his shoulder. If it is reflected whole, the person will be healthy during the year, but if it appears half – will be sick.
Etymologically according to the old Bulgarian interpretation of New Year's Day or pagan – “Summer Ignazhden”, the custom of mass bathing is mandatory - washing for health in water (in a river). The healing power of the river water is explained by the fact that the sun “bathed” in her. It is believed that before it “goes to winter”, the sun bathes in the water sources and makes the water healing. Then it is shaken off and the dew that falls has a special magical power. Therefore everyone should wash before sunrise in running water or rub themselves in the dew for health.
For healing and divination, at sunset, "silent water" is taken from a pure, sweet spring, poured in complete silence, so that its magical power is not destroyed by a human voice. The maidens leave their wrists in the silent water at night and in the morning they guess who their future husband will be ("Laduvane").
All the girls gather in one house and there they dress a 5-6 year old girl as a bride: with a long white shirt and a red outer garment called a kavat. They cover him with a red veil. On his head they place a silver pair and a wreath of yarrow. A maiden lifts Aeneas's bulla on her shoulders and the whole procession begins to go around the village, the fields, the gardens, the wells and the fountains. All the while the maidens sing New Year's songs. With this ritual tour, they want to beg from St. Enyo health and fertility.
On this day, our attention is once again focused on the need for healthy behavior.
Source: riokozpd.com