Traditional men’s dance in the river on Epiphany took place in Kalofer despite the anti-epidemic measures, mayor will be fined

The mayor of the South Bulgarian town of Kalofer, Rumen Stoyanov, will be fined BGN 1,000 for non-compliance with the anti-epidemic measures and the order of the Minister of Health during the men's dance in Tundzha on Epiphany day, the regional governor and head of the regional crisis management headquarters, Dani Kanazireva, said on January 6.

The fine will be in the maximum amount provided for an individual. According to her, it is still being clarified whether the Ministry of Interior and the Regional Health Inspectorate (RHI) in Plovdiv will also sanction the participants in the ritual as they did not wear protective masks and did not keep physical distance. If it is proved that the city administration also participated in the organization of the event, there will be a sanction for it in the amount of BGN 2,000.

In Plovdiv, no violations were found when throwing the cross in the Maritsa River, because the participants were tested for coronavirus with rapid tests before the event and wore protective masks, said Kanazireva.

Despite the pandemic measures, the people of the town of Kalofer performed the ritual for the Epiphany this year and as part of the tradition went into the waters of the Tundzha River to perform the men's dance (Mazhko Horo), which takes places on this day every year. The ritual of throwing the cross was observed by many guests of the town, who ignored the call of the mayor of Kalofer to avoid gatherings of many people this year.

The procession with drums and bagpipes started on the streets of Kalofer early in the morning. Eager to fulfil the tradition, the local residents stepped into the cold waters of Tundzha despite that they knew they may be fined.

The priest, father Demetrius, performed the Epiphany ceremony and consecrated the water, then threw the wooden cross into the river. 4-5 boys rushed to retrieve it and then handed it over to the youngest participant in the dance.

The difference this year was the consecration of a special icon "Baptism of the Lord" on the banks of the Tundzha River. It is depicted on a special metal panel, which will remain permanently there, on the river bank. The songs that are performed at the Epiphany men’s dance are written on both sides of the panel.

On 6th of January every year, the Bulgarian Orthodox church marks St. Jordan’s Day (Epiphany).

The main ritual on this day is performed early in the morning by a priest who throws a wooden cross into the river, sea or lake. Men dive in the ice-cold water and race to retrieve the cross. It is believed that the man who first takes the cross out of the water will be blessed to be healthy and freed from evil spirits throughout the year. The priest delivers a special blessing to that man and his household.

The ritual lasts longer In the South Bulgarian town of Kalofer. A large group of men and boys go in the icy waters of Tundzha river early in the morning and perform the unique men’s dance called “Mazhko horo”. In Kalofer it does not matter who catches the cross because as a tradition it goes to the youngest boy who went into the freezing waters of Tundzha river.

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