St. Nicholas Day is one of the important Orthodox holidays. It is dedicated to Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, who is revered as the deliverer of captives and the patron saint of sailors, travelers, merchants and bankers.
According to legend, Saint Nicholas is the man who unnoticed threw bags of gold into the house of an impoverished father and he married his three daughters. Many miracles are also attributed to him, saving sailors and sea travelers from water elements.
According to the Bulgarian Orthodox tradition, Saint Nicholas, whose name means "Victory", is also revered as the patron saint of fishermen. According to the folk-Christian myth of the division of the world, the seas, rivers, lakes fell to him. He is the lord of the entire underwater world - fish and water demons.
The day is a national holiday and is celebrated even in families that do not have a name list. On this day, Christmas trees are decorated, and a fish whose body is covered with scales is served on the table (most often this is a stuffed carp with walnuts). On this holiday, people whose names are derivatives or close to the name Nikolay – Nikola, Neycho, Nikolina, Nikoleta, Nina, Kolyo, Nitsa, etc., have a name day. On the holiday, in order to respect the name-bearer in his home, relatives, friends and acquaintances come, who do not necessarily have to be invited in advance. |
