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On the occasionof Midwives Day – January 21, known also as the Day of midwife assistance, all the centers for community development in Kameno, Peshtera, Etropole, Byala Slatina, Pavlikeni and Novi Pazar organized special celebrations.

Midwives Day is one of the most respected women’s holidays, celebrated for centuries in honor of the old woman-midwife in the area. The holiday is related with family traditions and it is equally accepted from all ethnicities living on the territory of Bulgaria. There is not a better reason for all habitants of the village to come together and to celebrate this wonderful traditional feast. As organized by the Centers for community development in the six project’s municipalities (Kameno, Peshtera, Etropole, Byala Slatina, Pavlikeni and Novi Pazar), the celebration started before noon on January 21.

In Novi Pazar the community moderators in collaboration with the Family-Consultative Center – Novi Pazar and a lot of volunteers all dressed up as old women wearing traditional folk’s costumes, were personally greeted by the mayor Mr. Rumen Panayotov. The old women wished to the mayor: “A lot of new born babies in the coming years on the territory of the municipality; also that the ecological legal framework should not be overstepped through the extraction of shale gas; that the mayor provides work places for all the town’s residents and that Novi Pazar becomes a town with prospects for young people so that they don’t go abroad”. The old women have been also greeted by the municipal administration, as well as by the social and the healthcare services. Everywhere they were calling for more attention on the part of institutions and municipality.

In the town of Kameno, the village of Altimir (Byala Slatina Municipality) and the village of Batak (Pavlikeni Municipality) Midwives Day was celebrated by showing a century-old ritual. All the people at the town square saw “how the old midwife was taken from her house by a harnessed donkey cart which took her to the square” where the ritual was performed. The midwife was served by young women who helped her wash her hands. The water dropping down of her hands the midwife sprinkles on the women around wishing them good health, fertility and to smooth birth. After that, according to the ritual the midwife was given a towel, soap and an apron. This was followed by a traditional folk dance “horo”. There were a lot of traditional dishes cooked by the local women for everyone participating in the holiday.

The moderator from the Center for community development - Peshtera made visit in one of the Roma houses in the town where the ritual on the occasion of Midwives Day has been performed. As traditional present for the midwife on that day is given a towel and a soap. Young women who have already children fill in copper containers with fresh water. In the copper mug full of water they dip a bunch of basil and geranium. Each woman brings a bar of soap and a new towel to be given to the “midwife”. After that everyone is invited at the midwife’s home. They must wash the hands of the old woman, called “washing”. The washing ritual must be performed under a fruit tree in the garden, on a loggerhead or in front of the stairs. Each woman pours water on the midwife’s hands and gives her the towel she brought. Then the midwife wipes her wet hands on the petticoat of the women - this ritual means a blessing for fertility.

The tradition in Peshtera says that when the hands of the midwife are washed she lets the water dipping through her fingers and jumps three times saying “Let the children scurry and have white and red cheekbones! The more drops, the more prosperity and good health!” As soon as the guests give their presents, the midwife invites everyone on the table covered with plentiful cakes and banitsa. A lot of laugh, joy and songs accompany the traditional female holiday. 

In the town of Etropole the Center for community development organized the celebration of the Midwives Day in the Roma neighborhood. The celebration was opened with the ceremonial arrival of the oldest woman. (80-year old) She arrived with a companion, leaning on his cane, dressed in traditional costume and wearing a tammy at her back with a doll into it. The old woman told a lot about the celebration of this day and sent message to the young women to preserve the traditions and to keep the spirit of that day for the future generations.

The celebration ended everywhere with singing and dancing.