by Ronesa Aveela | Jan 6, 2022 | Bulgaria, Holidays, Rituals and Traditions
Jordan’s Day is celebrated on January 6. The old Bulgarians believed that at midnight the rivers stopped flowing and their water became healing. On this day, the holy water from the church service was brought home, where the oldest woman sprinkled it for health. Also,...
by Ronesa Aveela | Dec 10, 2021 | Books, Bulgaria, Food, Holidays, Rituals and Traditions
The year 2021 is coming to a close. After the world-shaking events of 2020, many people hoped that 2021 would be better. For some, it may have, but for many, the trials afflicting the word continued on. But still, each new year brings hope, as if somehow the turning...
by Ronesa Aveela | Nov 12, 2021 | Artists, Books, Bulgaria, Eastern Europe, Mythology and Folklore, Rituals and Traditions
Back in March, we gave a brief overview of the infamous Baba Yaga, which you can read here to refresh your memory. But, this famous witch is more than a mere child-eating demon. If Hansel and Gretel had happened upon Baba Yaga in the forest, the witch might have...
by Ronesa Aveela | Oct 15, 2021 | Books, Bulgaria, Holidays, Rituals and Traditions
That cool May evening, Chorbadji Marko, without his hat in a warm robe, was having dinner with his family in the yard. The table was set, as usual, under the grape vine (asma) between the clear and cold spout of the cheshma, which sang like a swallow, day and night,...
by Ronesa Aveela | Aug 13, 2021 | Books, Bulgaria, Food
We recently donated copies of our cookbook to the “Health & Home Cooking” class at Augustine Christian Academy, an interdenominational classical school in Oklahoma, to give them a taste of Bulgaria. At the end of the 2021 school year, close to a dozen thirteen-...
by Ronesa Aveela | Jun 23, 2021 | Books, Bulgaria, Bulgarian Art, History, Mythology and Folklore, Rituals and Traditions
We knew little about the ancient Thracians when we started to work on Mystical Emona: Soul’s Journey, our debut novel. When people mention Thrace, the only heroes who readily come to mind are Hercules, Orpheus, and Spartacus – if even those. But Thrace has a vast...
