February 14th. Sounds familiar, right? While the world celebrates St. Valentine's Day, this day has a bit of a different meaning in Bulgaria. St. Trifon Zarezan is a holiday of wine and fun because St. Trifon is the patron saint of wine growers, winemakers, and innkeepers.
Trifon was a Christian priest executed for his faith in the city of Nicaea (modern Turkey) 250 years ago. Legend has it, on the day of his execution, insects attacked all the country's vineyards, and the husbandmen called on the saint to protect them from a disaster.
Day of St. Trifon Zarezan is a celebration for people associated with viticulture, gardeners, wine shop owners, and just admirers of this divine drink. According to Bulgarian folk traditions, the first pruning of the vines is made on this day to ensure that the autumn harvest was successful.
