The Day of St. Konstantin and St. Elena

Nestinarstvo (fire dancing)

The" nestinarstvo" is one typical Bulgarian custom. The "nestinarstvo" is dancing on hot embers without any shoes or socks. The dancers dance with  the sacred images of Saint Konstantin and Saint Elena. And the custom is still practiced today in one little village in Bulgaria called `Balgari` in the beautiful Strandzha Mountain, 18 km away from the town of Tzarevo. The ritual is performed on the Day of St. Konstantin and St. Elena on June 3 and June 4.  People think of them as chosen by the patron Saint and it is even believed that they can hear his voice and see his face during the ritual. The "nestinars" are not only women, there are also male nestinars.

The most important fact is that the feet of the "nestinars" show no signs of burned skin at all.