What is Trifon Zarezan and how Bulgarian celebrate it?
17: Thrifon Zarezan (Tryphonos Trimmer’s Day) is celebrated on 1st of february (or 14 february in new calendar style) Saint Tryphon is worshipped as the guardian of vineyards and this festival is in his honour. It is observed not only by vine-growers, but also by market-gardeners and tavern-keepers. Early in the morning the mistress of the house kneads some bread – unleavened or leavened. She also cooks a barnyard hen, which – following the tradition – is stuffed with rice or grouts. The hen is stewed in one piece and then roasted on a sachak (a kind of shallow copper pan). The loaf of bread, the hen and a wooden vessel (buklitza) full of wine are put in a new woollen bag. With such bags over their shoulders the men go to the vineyards. They make the sign of the cross, take the pruning-knives and cut, each one of them, three sticks from three main stems. Afterwards they make the sign of the cross again and pour the wine they have brought over the vines. This ritual is called ‘trimming’
