On 30^th of November people named Andrew, Andrian, Andrea, Andriana, Parvan, Pravka, Parvanka, Hrabar, Habrin, Silen, Silka, Desho, Deshka celebrate a name-day.

This day is dedicated to St. Andrew. He is the first among the twelve disciples who were told to follow Jesus Christ.

1. Andrew explored and spread around Christ’s doctrine. Hearing His words many pagans converted to Christianity. When St. Andrew went back to Patra City, refused to offer a sacrifice to pagan idols and therefore he has been crucified, but not nailed, he has been tied with ropes in order to lengthen his agony. Thousands of people gathered around the cross. Frightened the city keeper gave an order to release him. St. Andrew prayed to God not to be alive when they take him off the cross. When they untied him he passed away. According to the legend the city keeper committed a suicide after that. St. Andrew’s relics were moved to Constantinople and rest in the church, later they were taken by crusaders and moved to Amalta, Italy. The saint’s head is kept in Rome. In 1964 as a jesture of good relations Roman Catholic Church gave it as a gift to the Constantinople patriarchate.

St. Andrew has ordained the first bishop in Constantinople. Bulgarians, Russians, Serbian and other nations received saint christening from Constantinople patriarchate.

People believe this day is Bear’s Day – it’s celebrated in bear’s honour. It’s also called Edray, Edreay’s Day. According to the legend in the past St. Andrew was a lonely hermit in the mountains. There was taking care of small piece of land. But a bear ate his ox. Angered landowner caught the beast, put it to the yoke instead of the ox and in this way brought the animal under his sway. From then on he was riding the bear and worked the fields with its help. That’s why the saint is honoured as the patron of bears and their protector.

According to beliefs early in the morning corn is boiled into caldron, but soaked from the night before, while boiling it has to be thrown three times into chimney with exclamation: ” Here, bear, boiled corn, not to eat the raw and not to eat people’s food and men!”. In the caldron with corn they put also millet, beans, lettuce, barley, hemp. It has to be done in order everything that is planted and sowed to sprout and grow.

It’s been believed that from this day on the day becomes longer.

On this day wheat is cleaned for the water-mill. In Teteven area young brides do not work in order to become “bigger” – to become pregnant.