Saint John s Eve is one of the biggest holidays in Strandzha. It was believed that then the sun turned to the Earth. Early in the morning, people watched it rise and in the shadows foretold for health. On the eve of the day or on the morning before sunrise, herbs were picked. They were believed to have great healing power. On the evening before the holiday, the Tronkas and Zagorians foretold for health on a elderberry stalk left on the roof.

In the morning before sunrise they bathed in the river or in the sea for health; and in the villages of Stoilovo and Brashlyan they also bathed the cattle. Some people tied herbs to their waists and rolled on the dew so that their backs would not hurt. In the village of Zvezdets in the evening the girls gathered in neighborhoods in a yard. They lit a fire and poured “silent water”. Jan s boule, covered with a red apron, let go of the wrists that the girls wore for the whole family. Then she took off his apron and used it to cover the hearth, which they left under the quince. They danced around the fire.

An essential custom was the John s bride. It should be a girl with living parents. They dressed it in bridal clothes and covered it with two red towels, on which they placed a wreath of flowers and jewelry. The girl who took out the bride had to be the firstborn and “complete” (with living parents). They took the bride out before sunrise to make it a "big ikina." All the time she walked with her hands (crossed them one after the other). “Yanyovcheto” should not step on the ground. The group toured the church three times, then the well or the fountain, singing all the time. The participants stopped under every tree or crossroads where the Yanov dance was played. Then they walked around the summer pens, singing a song about the owner. When they reached the river, two maidens passed on the opposite bank and asked the bride, "Are you full?" "Let the year be full."

The group returned  to the village from where they had left. In the neighborhoods, the women placed the collected herbs, which the girl with the bull trampled to make them more healing. A dance was performed on the square, with the bride putting the herbs in the lap of a pregnant woman to maje the year “complete” . The woman found the bride’s face and let her eat cherries. At sunset, the happy maiden took a tin cauldron and brought “silent water”, in which they put wrists for each member of the family. The cauldrons were left under the stars or covered with a red apron under quince, apple, pear. In the village of Stoilovo, they hung the cauldron on a tree to watch the sun. The removal of the wrists took place early in the morning or after the end of the Yanyova Bulya custom. Enyata, blindfolded, sat by the cauldron, facing noon, and four maidens sang the songs as she stirred. The main divinations were for marriage and health.

It is then believed that herbs have the strongest effect and the greatest power in the early morning on this day.

On this occasion, on June 24 / Wednesday / the Strandzha Nature Park Directorate organized a tour along the interpretive route "Herbs of Strandzha Mountain". The starting point is in the center of the village of Brashlyan.

Be sure that you take with you "abandoned" items that pollute forests and water! :)

If you are not able to clean everything, take a picture and send it to us so that we can organize an eco-action and clean up!

/2020-06-24/