On this day a name day celebrate Iliya, Iliyan, Iliyana, Ilko, Ilka, Ilcho.

The Bulgarians honor St. Elias as a Master of the celestial elements – hail, thunder and lightning. He is believed to cause thunder and fire when galloping on his horse on the sky roads. If people do not honor him by killing an animal as a votive offering, the saint may lock the moisture in the sky, so that no rain falls on earth for three years. That is why on St. Elias’ Day a large male animal is ritually killed – a bull, an ox or a ram. All villagers gather on a clearing and boil the meat in cauldrons under venerable oak trees. The priest blesses the stew with holy water. He sprinkles holy water around, so that there is no drought during the summer. Traditionally, every household kills the oldest rooster as an offering to the celestial saint.