St. Athanasius the Great
St. Athanasius’s Day, known in Bulgarian as Atanasovden, is observed on 18 January every year. The church honours St. Athanasius the Great, the fourth-century Archbishop of Alexandria.
He was one of the foremost defenders of the doctrine of the Holy Trinity against Arianism. He also took part in the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea in 325. His defence of his faith led to his being sent into exile five times. The church observance commemorates this saint and his role in defending that teaching.
Winter Begins to Retreat
In Bulgarian folk belief, Atanasovden marks the middle of winter, but it also signals the point when winter begins to retreat. According to tradition, St. Athanasius puts on a festive shirt, climbs to a high mountain peak and calls out, “Go away, winter, come, summer!”
Together with St. Anthony’s Day, the holiday is known as Lelinden, a traditional name shared by the two observances. Folk customs call for avoiding heavy work on both days. Women also hand out small round loaves of bread with honey as a wish for good health.
Work Status and Name Days
St. Athanasius’s Day is not a public holiday: it is a normal working day in Bulgaria.
It is also a name day for people called Atanas, Atanaska, Nasko, Nasya and Tinka, as well as those with related names. These name-day celebrations share the date of the church observance.