Kalofer · January 6, 2027
Epiphany cross retrieval
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Epiphany cross retrieval
When is Epiphany cross retrieval 2027?
Epiphany cross retrieval 2027 runs on Wednesday, January 6, 2027. It's held on the same dates every year. The big day is Cross retrieval, Wednesday, January 6, 2027.
2027Wednesday, January 6, 2027Every year
How the dates are set: 6 January, Epiphany.
Epiphany cross retrieval schedule
- The procession: A lively procession heads down the main street before the men wade into the river. The first man in has to break any ice for the others. They circle together in a traditional dance.
- The cross: The local priest stands on the bridge over the river and throws a hand-held wooden cross into the water. Tradition says whoever retrieves it is guaranteed prosperity, health and happiness for the coming year.
Source: pleasantplacesbulgaria.com
Getting to Epiphany cross retrieval
- Parking near the river fills before sunrise. One visitor who arrived at seven in the morning could not get a nearby spot, so plan to arrive earlier.
Source: pleasantplacesbulgaria.com
History of Epiphany cross retrieval
Bulgarians call Epiphany the Apparition of Christ and mark the baptism of Jesus. The cross-retrieval ritual takes place across Bulgaria, though not always with a water dive. Kalofer's version stands alone: the man who retrieves the cross hands it to the youngest participant, who receives the blessing for good health.
Source: sightmagazine.com.au
Epiphany cross retrieval: questions people ask
When is Epiphany celebrated in Bulgaria?
Epiphany is celebrated on January 6 in Bulgaria. Orthodox churches in Russia, Ukraine and Serbia follow the Julian calendar and celebrate it on January 19.
What happens at the Epiphany celebration in Kalofer?
Men wade into the Tundzha River and dance the slow "mazhko horo," the men's dance. A priest then throws a wooden cross into the water for them to retrieve.
What happens if you catch the cross on Epiphany in Bulgaria?
By tradition, the person who retrieves the wooden cross will be freed from evil spirits and be healthy throughout the year. In Kalofer, the man who retrieves it hands it to the youngest participant.
What do the men wear at the Kalofer Epiphany ceremony?
In 2024, dozens of men waded into the river in traditional white embroidered shirts, and men played bagpipes and drums.
Is the Epiphany cross dive only held in Kalofer?
No. The same ritual takes place all over Bulgaria on Epiphany, though not always including the water dive. Kalofer's ceremony is a particularly famous one.
How cold is Kalofer on Epiphany?
Winter temperatures there can drop into the minus 20s, according to one visitor, and snow was falling during the ceremony she attended.
About Epiphany cross retrieval
Men leap into a frozen mountain river to retrieve a thrown wooden cross.
every january 6th a priest throws a wooden cross into the icy tundzha river and young men dive in to retrieve it, a bulgarian orthodox epiphany tradition believed to bring health and luck. kalofer's version is famous because the men dance the horo in the freezing water afterward. arrive early, the riverside fills fast in this small town.
Know before you go
- the ritual happens once, at a specific midmorning hour announced locally the day before
- january in the balkan mountains is cold and often snowy, dress for standing outdoors
- sofia airport is roughly 2 hours by car or bus to kalofer, plovdiv is closer at about 1.5 hours.
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