Christians in Bulgaria Celebrate Annunciation Day on March 25

 Today, March 25, Bulgaria celebrate the Annunciation Day (Blagoveshtenie), one of the major Christian holidays, part of the Easter cycle.

Blagoveshtenie is a major Christian Church holiday, reaffirmed during the 7th century. According to the Holy Script, on that day, nine months before the birth of Jesus Christ, Archangel Gabriel came to the Holy Virgin. He told her that she would become the mother of the Son of God. That sweet news also gave the name of the holiday in Bulgarian - Blagoveshtenie (meaning "Sweet News").

The day is also known under the name of Blagovshtene, Blagovets, Blagoets - in English: ANNUNCIATION, or LADY DAY. In the traditional conceptions this day is associated with the arrival of the migratory birds and with the final springtime awakening of Nature.

After Blagoveshtenie, everyone takes care to come out of one's house well-fed and with some money in his/her pocket, so that should a cuckoo sing a song to him, he will be well-fed and have money throughout the year. It is believed that if someone should first see a stork that is not flying but is lying or walking, some ill will befall him.

When a maiden or an unmarried young man first sees a cuckoo, she/he ties three times an empty cloth, places it on the roof and three days later makes prophesies about the spouse she or he is to get. On this day, acts are performed associated with the folk etymology of the name of the holiday. Vegetables are planted and fruit trees are grafted so that they might be "sweet"; fruit trees that do not bear fruit are "frightened"; lambs and kids are branded, because it is believed that the marking would then give them less pain.

Apiculturists open the beehives and let the bees out to collect sweet honey. The...