Lamb sacrifice and ritual breads for the feast of St. George –

/ world today news/ St. George’s Day, together with Easter, is considered the biggest spring holiday, but unlike Easter, which is a movable holiday, it is always in the middle of the blossoming spring. That is why it is called Green George (or Colored George).

Preparation for the holiday starts the day before. The maidens pick flowers and weave wreaths for the lamb that will be sacrificed. The ritual breads are kneaded, and the largest one is named after St. George. The first male lamb born during the year is brought in and consecrated. The kneeling takes place in front of the table, on which there is salt, bran and grass, of which is given beforehand to the lamb, so that it will have satiety, fertility, health and life. The collected blood is poured on the beds to make the earth more fruitful. Everyone gathers at a common table, passes it around, drinks, makes merry and sings songs: “St. George goes around the fields”, “Hail for St. George’s Day”, “Wreath for the lambs”. In addition to roast lamb, there should be fresh onions and garlic, salad, chicken, bread and wine on the table.

After lunch people play and swings are tied, which girls and boys do not swing, they will not go well during the year. Somewhere, the maidens take out rings, bracelets or wristlets from a white cauldron of silent water, previously left overnight, and call which maiden will marry whom. Elsewhere there is a custom of undressing and veiling the brides. All the young brides who got married this year go out to the party in their bridal clothes. The godparents (or best men) ritually remove their outer garment and take off their shoes. Then they are given ordinary ones and covered with a cloth. They also celebrate all namesakes – Georgi, Gergo, Gergana, Gero, Gyurga, Geto, Getso, Gotse, Guga, etc., by welcoming guests to their homes. Under the Christian essence of St. George the Victorious, ancient mythological relics are discovered; he is the hero-martyr with whom folklore tradition associates pagan spring cattle cults and kite-fighting motifs. Defeating the demon of evil (dragon, dragon), he restores the harmony of being.