Sirni Zagovezni (Shrove Sunday)

Sirni Zagovezni (Shrove Sunday) or Forgiveness Sunday is a day for forgiveness. It always takes place seven weeks before Easter – on the last preparatory Sunday before the start of the Great Lent. On this day, the Church urges believers to purify their souls and fill their hearts with peace and love in order to meet the Resurrected Christ. As only dairy and egg dishes from the non-lenten food are put on the table the day is called Sirni Zagovezni. Traditionally, after dinner people forgive one another for past mistakes so that they can start the Great Lent with clean conscience.

The tradition for people to disguise themselves on Shrove Sunday dates back to the Middle Ages and even long before. The masks were supposed to chase away the evil spirits that roam the earth. This custom is followed only in some parts of Bulgaria. The festival symbolizes the victory of light over darkness - that is, the coming of spring and the end of winter. Surva International Festival of the Masquerade Games, which has the same function, is part of UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.