Bulgarian Epiphany

[Anaximander]

[TheMaestro]

Real men

[PAGANE]

This year the weather is warm and the water is not frozen, but it was not like that 3-4 years ago

[Zohor]

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.

^ in case someone doesn't know what is it about

[Anaximander]

They look so traditional.

[Mortimer]

I informed myself what the difference between western christian epiphany and eastern christian epiphany is. The western christians celebrate the three wise men or kings, and they celebrate the physical coming of Christ to this world, when Christ manifested himself to the gentiles in the world physically. The orthodox christians celebrate the baptism of christ, they say because christ was little known before his baptism, that is when he revealed himself to the world as son of God. Thats why bulgaros and grecos etc. swim in the lakes, because baptism was in the waters.