site.btaHundreds Join Traditional Epiphany Chain Dance in Kalofer's River
Hundreds took part in the traditional men's horo chain dance in the icy waters of the Tundzha River in Kalofer on Tuesday. The event is held annually of Epiphany, which is locally known as "Yordanovden" (the Day of the Jordan River) and celebrated across Bulgaria on January 6.
Kalofer Mayor Dragomir Boev told BTA that the participants in the chain dance traditionally number around 200 men of various ages from Kalofer.
The marking of Epiphany began with a solemn liturgy in the Church of Saint Archangel Michael. Afterwards, the men headed to Tundzha River in a procession, where the cross and the river were blessed. Then the traditional dance in the river was held.
It was followed by the Ephiphany ritual of the throwing of the cross in the river, performed across Bulgaria where thousands of men jump to retrieve the cross in the sea, in rivers, lakes or even swimming pools. As recovering the cross is considered a sign of good luck and health, local people in Kalofer believe that the participants in the river horo will be healthy all year round.
The cross was recovered by one of the men, after which it was handed over to the youngest participant in the Kalofer chain dance, the one-and-a-half-year-old Anton Alexiev, who was on his father's shoulders.
The ritual of throwing the cross in Kalofer was revived in 1990 at the place where it had been performed on Epiphany since the time of Ottoman rule.
Mayor Boev told BTA that there is no institutional organization specifically for participants in the Epiphany ritual in Kalofer. According to him, it is a charge of energy and emotion, and everything is done with heart and soul by the men and boys of the town, who gather together at the river at a specific moment. He specified that in order for the people of Kalofer to be the first to enter the river, a pass system has been set up at the point of entry by young men from Kalofer and employees of the Ministry of Interior, who only allow local residents to enter in the first group. After the cross was retrieved, the rest of those wishing to participate in the traditional ritual were allowed to enter the river, Boev explained.
In the town, reservations at guest houses for January 6 are filled a year in advance, the Mayor of Kalofer also said, explaining that reservations are already being made for January 6, 2027.
/DS/
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