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Lesson Transcript

Hello, and welcome to the Culture Class- Holidays in Bulgaria Series at BulgarianPod101.com. In this series, we’re exploring the traditions behind Bulgarian holidays and observances. I’m Eric, and you're listening to Season 1, Lesson 24 - Sveti Tryphon Zarezan.
Trifon Zarezan is also called Vine-Growers’ Day. It’s an unofficial or folk holiday celebrated in honor of Saint Trifon. It is celebrated on February 1, also known as Trifon’s Day.
In this lesson we will tell you how the wine feast is celebrated in Bulgaria.
Now, before we get into more detail, I've got a question for you-
Do you know why Saint Trifon is considered a patron of vines?
If you don't already know, you’ll find out a bit later, so keep listening!
Other popular names for the feast are Zarezanov Den and Trifon Drunkard. Saint Trifon himself was a healer and became a saint martyr. He came from a region in Asia Minor, considered to be the land where vines and “wine,” or vinoto, originated. Saint Trifon is considered a patron of vines and Trifon’s Day is honored as Vine-Growers’ Day.
Trifon’s Day is celebrated according to the old style on February 14, together with the modern Saint Valentine’s Day. But tradition demands that on this day the people with names deriving from the name Trifon celebrate a name-day. These names include Trichka, Ticho, Radka, Racho, and others. However, Trifon Zarezan is mainly a feast of vine growers, gardeners, and tavern-keepers.
“Usually,” or obiknoveno, on this day a boiled chicken is prepared and bread is kneaded—generally a flat loaf. The vine growers take some of the meat and bread, as well as a vessel of wine, and go to the vines, where they perform, or izvarshvat, the vine-pruning ritual. After cutting three sticks they “cross themselves,” or se prekrastvat, and “water,” or polivat, the vines with the wine.
The "King of the Vines" is elected during the ritual, and is then decorated with a wreath made of vine sticks. All of the people “head,”or otpravyat se, to town, where they are welcomed with wine. They drink the wine and what’s left is “splashed” or se plisva onto the king for a rich crop.
Now it's time to answer our quiz question-
Do you know why Saint Trifon is considered a patron of vines?
The legend states that when he was pruning his vineyard, he accidentally “cut off,” or otryazal, the top of his nose. On icons he is sometimes depicted with a vine-pruning knife or a sickle, and sometimes with a “falcon,” or sokol, sitting on his hand. According to tradition, he is also considered patron of the falconers.
How was this lesson? Did you learn something interesting?
Do you celebrate a Saint Trifon Day and a Day of Wine and Vines?
Leave a comment letting us know at BulgarianPod101.com,
and we'll see you in the next lesson!

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