Bulgaria Marks St. Elijah Day (Ilinden)

On July 20, Bulgaria marks Ilinden - the Day of Saint Elijah the prophet (or Iliya) and the Name Day of Iliya, Iliyan and Iliyana.

In folklore traditions, St. Elijah is accepted and honoured as master of celestial elements - lord of thunder, lightning and rain.

The folk tradition prohibits bathing in the rivers and the sea on Ilinden, because it is believed that St. Elijah takes a sacrifice.

The day is also a feast of tailors. Old style Ilinden is celebrated on August 2, when the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising broke out for the Liberation of Macedonia and the Adriatic.