November 4 this year is All Souls' Day - the day we pray for the souls of our deceased loved ones. The name "Zadushnica" (editor's note: Bulgarian word "for the soul") derives precisely from the meaning of this day - I pray "for the soul".
On this day, according to tradition, the first sip of wine is not drunk but must be poured on the ground.
All Souls' Day, also called Archangel's Day, Rangel's Day, Hrangel's Day, is one of the three largest All Souls' Days according to the Orthodox calendar. It is celebrated on the first Saturday before Archangel's Day - because Saturday is designated as the day of the dead. In every Orthodox church on All Souls' Day, a memorial service is held for the deceased, all pray for the souls of the dead and light a candle.
On memorial service, Bulgarians visit the graves of our loved ones. We clean them, smoke them with incense and decorate them with flowers. In the past, the oldest woman poured red wine over the grave. The ritual after pouring wine starts from the place where the deceased's head is to the left - as a rule, three circles after the end of the grave.
Bulgarians light a candle on the grave of the deceased, which is a symbol of our faith, and the flame reminds us of the immortality of souls. The incense symbolizes the purity of prayer, the flowers - the virtues of the deceased.
On All Souls' Day memorial service, as with other memorial services, repasts are made. Also known as the Great All Souls' Day, it is the last one of the year, so seven different dishes are placed during the repast (among which several, favourite to the deceased), in order to "hear" the blessing of the dead in the coming Christmas fasts. The first mouthful is placed on the ground, and the first sip of wine is poured, not drunk, and we remember the deceased with the words "May God forgive". The old people say that if you see a fly or a butterfly buzzing around you on this day, it means that the soul of the deceased has come to vizit.
To mention the deceased, food is given away as a repass. Repass is offered to loved ones, neighbours, relatives, those who came to the grave of the deceased, and also to other people around the neighbouring graves, even to strangers.
The repast for All Souls' Day traditionally includes wine, boiled wheat, pies (or bread), chicken, lamb or meat in general, small sweets, candies, apples and other fruits, and cupcakes, but in fact you can give whatever you want. The grain symbolizes the resurrection, bread and wine - in memory of Christ's sacrifice for us.
On Saturday, the Metropolitan Municipality organised additional transport in connection with the "Zadushnica" commemoration. /BGNES
