Breaking fast
is made with meat so the festive table contains only meat dishes. In
the week after Mesni Zagovezni people eat a lot of cheese, butter and
eggs. This is the last week in which the young people can go to the
village square, sing and dance the horo because until Easter
(Passover) there follows food and spiritual fasting.
For centuries the
Bulgarians, through traditional moral norms, have established the
necessary eating schedule for the year. The strict observation of the
fast is supported by a cycle of rituals and rules, fixing "starting
fast" and "breaking fast". "Starting fast" is a whole series of
practices introducing man into a system of restrictions, and "breaking
fast" is a return to the world of chaos and temptations.
Fasting in cosmogonic folk
mythology has its origin in the belief in the rhythmic change of chaos
and order. From an aesthetic and biological point of view fasting is
connected with the rituals of seasonal transition and bringing
biological processes of man in harmony with those of nature. The
social aspect of fasting illustrates the traditional folk concepts of
cyclic birth and death in nature. In most ancient cultures fasting is
practiced as a form of voluntary restriction, repentance for bad
thoughts and deeds and mobilization of the spirit and the body to
overcome future difficulties. Temporary abstinence from certain foods
and actions during fixed periods of time is a way of purification and
attainment of spiritual and physical perfection.
In this sense are also the
precepts of the mediaeval philosopher Basilius the Great that fasting
is “themother of health”, and satiation is “the source of all evil”.
Behind all concepts and beliefs one can see the rational goals of
fasting as a way of periodical cleansing of the human body from
harmful, toxic accumulations. The Easter fast is the longest. It lasts
seven weeks and ends on Easter.
The second longest
fast is the Christmas fast – 40 days. There is two-week fasting before
the days of some saints, among whom Virgin Mary and Saint Peter.
Click on thumbnail to
return to Festival Calendar
PEACE HAVENS of BULGARIA
