Babinden

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Babinden: the Day of the Midwife in Bulgaria

Babinden is a Bulgarian festival honoring the women who practice midwifery. It is celebrated on January 8 (January 21 in some areas) in Bulgaria and Serbia, and on December 26 (January 8 in the Gregorian calendar) in Russia and Belarus. The holiday has ancient roots and is part of family traditions.

On Babinden, all mothers whose children were born in the past year visit the midwife’s house. Men do not take part in the rituals. The midwife (baba) is highly respected for helping bring new life into the world.

Morning ceremony: at sunrise, the mothers of children under three go to a common well, draw water, and dip a sprig of basil or geranium in it. They bring a bar of soap and a new towel to the midwife’s house. The bathing ritual happens outdoors, and each woman gives the midwife the soap and water. The midwife wipes her hands with the towels and receives a bunch of geraniums tied with red and white threads. She may splash the water, jump three times, and wish that the children stay healthy and that life and harvest will be abundant. The women also give the midwife gifts such as shirts and socks, which she keeps on her right shoulder. In return, the midwife ties a red-and-white bracelet with a silver coin on each child she delivered and gives the child socks and shirts. She then washes the child’s face, believed to bring cleansing and good health.

Blessing water: after the birth, the midwife takes basil or geranium water to the church. The priest blesses the water and the midwife, and she brings the holy water back to the mother. For about forty days after birth, the mother uses a little of this holy water in the baby’s daily bath.

The feast: at noontime, the mothers prepare a meal at the midwife’s house. Each brings fresh bread (pogacha), banitsa, chicken, and wine or rakia. The women share the food, sing, dance, and tell jokes. The midwife wears a string of red peppers for fertility, and the dinner ends with more gifts and songs.

The vlechugane (haulage) of the midwife: after the meal, men join to transport the midwife in a carriage or basket, often pulled by men dressed as oxen. If they meet a man on the way, they may demand ransom. The group goes to the river for a ceremonial bath of the midwife.

Evening celebration: in the town square, people dance the horo and celebrate. The midwife is thanked again with gifts and kind words.

Cultural beliefs: children are central in Bulgarian life, with many sayings praising children. There are traditional rules to help ensure easy pregnancy and delivery, including keeping the delivery secret from everyone except the mother-in-law and the baba, and keeping the fire lit for forty days after birth.