Nestinarstvo (fire-walking)

[Shkembe Chorba]

Nestinarstvo (Bulgarian: нестинарство, Greek: αναστενάρια, anastenária) is a fire ritual originally performed in several Bulgarian- and Greek-speaking villages in the Strandzha Mountains close to the Black Sea coast in the very southeast of Bulgaria. It involves a barefoot dance on smouldering embers (жарава, zharava) performed by nestinari (нестинари). It is usually performed on the square of the village in front of the whole population on the day of Sts. Constantine and Helen or the day of the village's patron saint. The ritual is a unique mixture of Eastern Orthodox beliefs and older pagan traditions from the Strandzha Mountains.

More on:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nestinarstvo















It has strong influence in our folklore, Nestinar's dance:

[Kazimiera]

I want to do firewalking too!!!!

[Scholarios]

The Greek version "Anastenaria" documentary (English with Greek subtitles) an oldie but goodie.

[morski]

An amazing tradition which sadly is slowly dying out.

[alexkid]

Lovely tradition; I won't be trying this anytime soon.