Vultchi Praznitsi/Mratintsi

 (The Wolf Days)  14th – 21st November

     The holiday is celebrates in different ways in the different regions of the country. In some regions of Western Bulgaria the celebration on these days is considered as a protection from wolves. The most highly celebrated day is the one called Mratinyak. In the regions around Pleven people give a black chicken as a sacrifice and a protection against pip (hen's disease). The chicken is slaughtered by the eldest woman in the family but the chicken is usually on one of the sides of the threshold and the woman on the other or behind the door. The head and the feet of the chicken are bound with a red thread and are hung behind the door. It is believed that they protect the house from evil and magic. The gizzard and the feathers are saved and used as a cure. November is even worse than the Dirty Days. During this time people can catch different diseases

  In the past the Thracians paid homage to the wolf not as a warrior and leader of a military band of fighters - but rather a warrior who has broken the rules and has become the leader-king of outlaws. Something attractive has remained in the concept of his name, something regal, although with a negative association.
      “ Wolf, Wolf, Let your name be blessed,….” (from old folk song)
The name of "Wolf" is given to people, areas or villages. It has all derived from mythology, from the beliefs our ancestors used to have. The merged motif of the wolf-dragon is clearly displayed in the art of that time. Dragons are represented with wolf heads in decorative art pieces (as can be seen on jewellery, woodcarvings and embroidery).
      Bulgarians believe that on these seven nights any man could catch any sort of disease. They associated the night with an old and ugly woman writing down the names of all sinners in a book with a touch of her stick, therefore people are not supposed to go out of their houses late at night … not on these nights.

  The most terrible wolf day is Koutzoulan, the 21st of November, and there are other Wolf Days on February 2nd and 3rd.

 

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