Trifon Zarezan is a holiday not only of the vine growers and winemakers, but also of the whole Bulgarian people. It is celebrated on February 1. Although today it is no longer what it was in the past, the echo of it still reaches us. February - the month on the border between winter and spring. The month that marks the beginning of agricultural work by cutting down the vines. Then everything wakes up, comes out of the winter stagnation and life begins to re-emerge. And the holiday itself Trifon Zarezan is a wonderful "tangle" of myths and folk beliefs that create its image in our time. Looking back in time, we find the roots of this holiday in the Thracian veneration of Dionysus - the god of fertility, joy and wine. And later his Christian heir became St. Tryphon. Many of the preserved customs are similar to those once played in honor of Dionysus. For example, during the Dionysian feasts, small sickles were danced. And later St. Tryphon was painted by icon painters with a kosher in his hand. Kosser, giving rise to a folk tale. Although changed and changed to this day, passed on by word of mouth, it is still based on Tryphon, who cut his nose with such a kosher, cutting down the vine. That is why the name of the holiday is such - Trifon Zarezan. Custom In the past, early in the morning, the Bulgarian woman got up to prepare ritual bread. It was usually decorated with dough in the shape of a vine leaf. But the walk did not end there. She also made boiled or roasted chicken full of rice. And most importantly: she made a cup of red wine. The hostess put all this in a bag, and the owner went to the vineyard with her. Cutting down the vines was a man's job. That is why women were not allowed. They stayed at home. Although in different parts of the country cutting has its own specifics, ritual practices are significantly uniform. According to this custom, each of the farmers abandoned his vineyard and watered the place with wine. Cut sticks were an important part of the custom. They did not rise from the ground, they were left there - in the vineyard. Do not "lift the prosperity" from it. But one of them always curled up in a wreath. It was the royal crown. She adorned the hat of the vineyard "king." And who was this "king"? He could be any man in the village. He was chosen at the common table - after everyone had dropped their vines, gathered together, arranged the "table", took out the pies prepared by the women, arranged the hens and wine jugs. And then the king was elected. Although even the younger ones could become kings, most often a king became a more experienced vine grower, during the "rule" of which there was no drought and the land was fertile. The king took a special bunch of vines. He was adorned with a wreath, and the feast began. The handkerchiefs and the people were not missing. Neither on the table, nor on the way to the village. Drinking and eating, to the sound of the drum, the men headed from the vineyard to the village, led by their "king." And as a true king, he was either pulled by a chariot or carried in his arms. In the village they went around their villagers, passed through the yards, gave blessings, and the hosts served them wine. Once they toured all the homes, the men gathered at the "king's" house, where they were entertained. Bagpipes and drums were played, people were wailing and wine was pouring. And so on until the first cocks. Although this holiday is not celebrated by everyone today, it is still alive. And it tells us about the beliefs of our people.