Bulgarians dance barefoot on embers for health, crop

People in the small village Bulgari, 485 km southeast of Bulgaria’s capital Sofia, danced barefoot on embers for health and crop following a millennial tradition of their ancestors.

The village, located on a ridge in the Strandja mountain near the Black Sea, is the only place left in Bulgaria where this ritual coming from the ancient Thracians is still followed.

The fire dancers are called “nestinari”. They inherit this incredible mastery from their parents and grandparents, and they believe that this custom gives them rich harvest and health.

According to this tradition, after the sunrise on Thursday local people and many tourists singing and dancing went round the village, round the springs and crossed the venerable beech trees placed on the near slopes.

Late in the afternoon an enormous fire was set at the Bulgari center. Folk songs and dances were performed nearby.

At the sunset, the flaming logs already turned into a huge heap of embers. The time for the fire dancers was on.

Five nestinari got out of the special house for concentration called “konak” under the sounds of two bagpipes and two drums approaching the fireplace.

They were playing a short dance around the fireplace while the oldest nestinar spread the embers in a shape of a circle.

After it, the oldest nestinar stepped on the embers crossing the fire circle. The other fire dancers followed him.

In 15 minutes time the nestinari went in and out the fire spot many times. At the end of this unbelievable performance one of the dancers took some hot coals in his hands in front of the stunned spectators.

During this fire dancing there was no one injured.

Nestinari said it is a matter of heredity, concentration and strong belief. Anyway, this custom is still a big mystery.

Xinhua