Tsvetnitsa is one of the colorful holidays in the Bulgarian calendar. This day is accompanied by many dances, songs and people. The holiday is placed on the day after Lazarus Day, hence its other name - Flower Sunday. In this article, you will find out about the peculiarities of this day, which not only celebrates the name day of people with the names of delicate and beautiful flowers.
They take place on Palm Sunday rituals, which are related to the lazarkas of the previous day. Kumiche is a rite without which Tsvetnitsa is not Tsvetnitsa. The maidens who performed Lazarus on Lazarov Day set off for the nearest river the next day. No matter how far the river is, they must reach it. Each maiden carries with her a "doll", actually made of bread, and sometimes of a willow wreath. For this day, all lazarkas prepare a special bread wrapped in thin dough on a stick, and at the end they place three balls symbolizing the eyes and the mouth.
On the way to the river
the girls wrap the bread in messal – used for various purposes in the past, in this case as a cloth for raising the dough. Before the actual kumichene, the girls sing a sonorous song and play a dance resembling a hand dance. The ritual bread is carried so that each girl can break off a small morsel from it and place it on a flat tree above the river, among the other morsels. When all are ready, the tree is let down the river, and whose morsel floats first, that maiden is designated as the damsel. Until the courtship is over, the maidens have a fear of a dragon that might appear and grab one of them.
As soon as it becomes clear who the lady is
the fear of each of the lazarettes disappears. In the next one year, the ladybug is the protector of her friends. The young girls return to the village, following the courtesan. Everyone goes to the home of the new protector. The maidens' path also resounds with cheerful songs and melodies. As soon as they reach the house, the lazarkas are greeted by their friend's family. Everyone lines up around the table, where they partake of the ritual breads, crushing them in a pan and dousing them with boiling water.
The last dance is performed after the meal is over. Everyone dances in unison, singing a song for the first drink. The custom ends with choruses. Any girl who has been lazared cannot leave without singing. Palm Sunday is another holiday dedicated to youth, girls and love. According to the beliefs, if the girl marries without a kumichila, then the evil dragon will appear and take her even as a bride.
