Etropole is a sizeable town situated in a long valley surrounded by forested hills. The only time I've been there so far was for the feast of St Atanas which is always celebrated on the last Sunday in January.

​

The festival has its roots in Thracian times when the people believed the god Sabasius (equivalent to the god Dionysius in Ancient Greece) would chase away the cold and snow of winter. Before dawn, people begin the climb up the trail which leads through the forests to St Atanas peak. They wear wreathes of ivy and snowdrops (symbols of the coming spring) and carry sticks, as tall as a person, on which they thread cubes of meat to roast over open fires. Naturally wine and rakia play a big role too!

​

They greet the rising sun from the peak (a place with incredible views all around) and then the feasting and merriment begin in ernest. Everywhere you look there are groups of people gathered around log fires whilst the Etropole brass band wanders from group to group playing in return for a drink of rakia or some levs.

​

Walking back down the hillside was quite tricky in the snow and ice, so people just sat down and slid wherever possible.  A Bulgarian woman asked if we thought they were barbarians. Heck no, just a bunch of people who really know how to party!

​

Once back in the town they process to the town centre where the celebrations continue.

​

If you want to join in the celebrations up on Atanas Peak then there are footpaths from the Hotel Everest, though people did tell us there was an alternative easier route up from the other side of the hill.