Gypsy Feet: We should do this more often!

We've had lots of school functions and staff parties this year, but the St. George's Day celebration on Friday night was by far the best! Back in December, the international staff hosted an American Thanksgiving for the Bulgarian faculty. We spent numerous hours slaving away in the cafeteria kitchens (quite an adventure!) to make lots of turkey, stuffing, and fixings (I was on team dessert, of course...pumpkin, apple, and banana cream pie...see December blog posts for pictures). The Bulgarians reciprocated by hosting this party. Traditional Bulgarian food such as roast lamb was served; however, their efforts were concentrated on the entertainment, as you can see in the videos. The combination of being outdoors, great event planning, and music made this a night to remember...we should do this so much more often!

Here is a little history on St. George's Day. And yes, we know it was on May 6, which was the end of a long weekend holiday (I was in Baden Baden then). We were going to celebrate on May 29, but our party was postponed. So, we were a month late, but not to worry...our party was worth the wait!

From novinite.com:

Bulgaria Celebrates St. George's Day
Society | May 6, 2008, Tuesday

Hundreds of thousands of Bulgarians are celebrating their name days on St. George's Day, May 6. Picture by webcrafts.bg
Bulgarians are celebrating Tuesday (May 6) "Gergyovden" - the day of one the most popular saints - St. George, who is among the few venerated by Christians and Muslims alike.

St. George was a Roman officer during the rule of Emperor Diocletian (284-305), who became one of the martyrs for Christianity. He was tortured and then beheaded (on April 23, 306) because of his refusal to renounce his Christian faith.

The holy martyr St. George the Victor has been considered one of the most important Saints ever since Christianity became the official state religion in Bulgaria in the 9th century.

In Bulgaria St. George is the patron of spring verdure and fertility, and of shepherds and farmers. His Day, May 6, is believed to set in summer and the new farming cycle.

Several hundred thousand Bulgarians, including President Georgi Parvanov and Parliament Speaker Georgi Pirinski, celebrate their name days on Tuesday.

A common ritual is to prepare and eat a whole lamb, which is an ancient practice possibly related to Slavic pagan sacrificial traditions and the fact that St. George is the patron saint of shepherds.

Special place on the table is attributed to the ritual Gergyovden bread. All sorts of bread are made for the feast - the cross bread, the shepherd's bread, the large ring-bread, as well as small ones, or the special ring-shaped bun baked by the young wife in the house.

St. George is praised by the Bulgarians as "liberator of captives, and defender of the poor, physician of the sick". For centuries he has been considered by the Bulgarians as their protector. Possibly the most celebrated name day in the country, St George's Day (Гергьовден, Gergyovden) is a public holiday that takes place on 6 May every year. A common ritual is to prepare and eat a whole lamb. St. George is the patron saint of farmers and shepherds.[42]
St. George's Day is also the Day of the Bulgarian Army (made official with a decree of Knyaz Alexander of Bulgaria on 9 January 1880) and parades are organised in the capitol Sofia to present the best of the army's equipment and manpower.

Now that you know the history of the celebration, take a look at the ACS version of the party:

DINNER!

My reputation precedes me...multiple people brought me ice cream...and of course, I ate them all! Much to the amusement of my Bulgarian colleagues, my foodie status is official, though I will refrain from publishing the proof here, at least for now...

Dancing!