16.02.2012Celebrating of February 14: St. Valentine or St. Triphon Zarezan
St. Valentine or St. Triphon Zarezan – surely for the community moderators from the centers for community development established by Amalipe this was another way to incorporate into one the communities in their settlements and to celebrate in a funny and memorable manner the Day of the Love and of the Wine.
On February 14 a number of people honor the love and a big part of the humanity honors the wine. Valentine’s Day is Catholic and St. Triphon’s day – Orthodox. Interesting fact is that Valentine and Triphon lived almost at the same historical time. Both lived around 255 year, both were healers and have martyr’s death. But let’s cut out the historical facts. On February 14, 2012 the Centers for Community Development in Peshtera, Novi Pazar, Kameno, Etropole, Byala Slatina and Pavlikeni organized different event on occasion of that special day. After so many cold days the sun raised high at that day and combined of the excitement of the holiday the day become even more pleasant.
In honor of the feast the community moderators previously had announced an essay contest entitled ‘What is Love’. The results of it and the award ceremonies were held exactly at February 14.
On spots the celebration of February 14th began everywhere in the early morning of the day with presentation of the students’ essays and awarding the top three essay-writers. Competition was attended by youth from 12 to 18 years old. More active in writing, however, proved to be girls. To refute that the boys from Etropole presented a new song dedicated to the delicate part of humanity (women). Here is a list of some of the winners in the essay contest: Ginka Stoyanova Ivanova – 8th grade, town of Kameno; Bilyana Zyumbyuleva Mancheva – 10th grade, Novi Pazar; Ivona Milanova – 7th grade, Etropole; Philip Krasimirov – 12th grade, Byala Slatina. In addition to presenting essays about love in Byala Slatina was shown the movie “You are it” focusing on HIV/AIDS and promoting the message: Make love wisely!
With a traditional cutting of the vines started the celebration of the day in Novi Pazar. This happened in the courtyard of the local Vocational School of Agriculture. In the early afternoon festivities continue in conjunction with Family and Consultation Center. There was organized a charity exhibition where everyone was able to buy Valentine cards and other Valentine items made by children and youth from Novi Pazar.
In Pavlikeni, Byala Slatina, Etropole, Peshtera and Kameno young people handed out to passerby handmade valentines with love messages into them. Additionally to the valentines in Pavlikeni the Center for community development distributed condoms provided by the “Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS” Program of the Ministry of Health funded by the Global Fund to fought AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis.
