site.btaTown of Yakoruda Safely Observes St. George Day Festivities amid Coronavirus Pandemic

Sofia, May 6 (BTA) - The small southwestern Bulgarian mountain 
town of Yakoruda has a special relationship with St. George's
Day, also known as the Feast of Saint George, a Christian
holiday observed across several countries. Bulgaria marks this
day on May 6, and not even the coronavirus pandemic could
prevent the people of Yakoruda from celebrating their town's
holiday, albeit adapting it to the safety regulations.

Traditionally, in the days before May 6, the town people hang
their hand made traditional Bulgarian rugs (called ''tcherga'')
out on their balconies or fences and wear traditional Bulgarian
clothing, creating a colorful and festive atmosphere. This year
has been no different.

As has been every year for centuries, a unique ritual called the
 ''dunking of the belezi'' was observed on Tuesday, the eve of
May 6. The ritual calls for a young girl from each house, whose
parents are both still alive, to place a small bouquet of
flowers (called ''belezi''), tied with red string, into a large
water-filled clay pot which sits under a multiflora rose plant.
One such pot (called 'kyup'') is made available in every
neighborhood. The flowers stay overnight and in the morning each
 family comes back to claim theirs and places them on their door
 for good health.

In addition to safely keeping their traditions, the people of
Yakoruda also attended services at the St George Church on
Tuesday evening, dressed up in their traditional attire and
standing a few metres part from each other, keeping the social
distance requirements and creating a strange but beautiful
sight.

Generally, celebrations of the occasion last for two days, May 5
 and May 6, and include observing of many folklore traditions,
folklore music and dancing in the town square and end with a
massive music-filled feast in the meadow of the St. George's
Church, located a little outside the town. The event is not wide
 known and is mostly attended by townspeople, but in recent
years its uniqueness and authenticity has began to attract
outsiders who come via the picturesque narrow-gouge train for
the occasion.

This year, however, due to the anti-pandemic measures, the
annual feast and festivities, an occasion for which Yakoruda
citizens gather back in their home town from all over the world
and which unite both the Christians and Muslims living in the
town, have been cancelled.  On Wednesday Yakoruda families will
feast at their own houses, but with pride that they managed to
keep the St. George day tradition alive. DT//