Bulgaria Honours Midwife’s Day

On 8^th of January, Bulgaria marks the Day of the Midwife (Babinden). It is one of the biggest traditional feasts dedicated to the women who help in childbirth. The rituals of this day are mainly in honour to the elderly women who in the past were the ones to help young women during giving birth. The traditional word for midwife in Bulgarian is baba, same as grandmother. The holiday has pagan origins and is part of the traditional family rituals.

“Baba” holds a particularly important place in the traditional family life. She is universally honoured and loved for her skills in bringing about new life.

One of the rituals includes the midwife bathing the babies (and small children) and after that she gives the babies numerous blessings.

At lunch time, mothers who gave birth last year would prepare a feast in the house of the midwife. Every woman brings a freshly baked bread, boiled or grilled chicken and wine. Each woman kisses the midwife's hand and gifts her the food. The daughters and daughters-in-law of the hostess set a long and rich table for all the guests. After the feast of the young mothers is over, the feast Babinden culminates in the ritual bathing of the midwife. In some parts of Bulgaria the young mothers would bring the midwife to the biggest well of the village or in the river/lake/sea where the midwife gets her bath.