Horse riding tradition: Races on Todorovden

Todorovden, the holiday also known as Todoritsa or Horse Easter, is celebrated on the first Saturday of Great Lent (on March 4 in 2023). According to an old custom, races are organized with horse rides and horse jumping. Tradition dictates that the men have to weave the manes and the tails of their horses and to decorate them with tassels, beads, and flowers.

Surviving tradition differs widely depending on local customs. Once upon a time it was a common practice for women to knead and distribute ritual bread and to feed the horses with it as well. Wheat was distributed, blessed in the church later. The key element of the day, however, were horse races: participants, horse breeds and details varying. In the past the winner was given a shirt as a reward, and the horse was decorated with a new bridle.

Many local customs in Bulgaria are becoming ethnologic rarities or suffer heavily under the modern times influences. Todorovden rituals, however, despite the changed role of horse in everyday life, seem to become more popular with time.

Horse races took place in many places in Bulgaria on this year's Todorovden. In Sofia, Varna, Shumen, and Pazardzik, in Arbanassi near Veliko Tarnovo, and in Begunovtsi near Breznik races and shows took place, as well as competitions for professionals and amateurs, demonstration of medieval equestrian warfare, weigh horse competitions and various other attractions. Citizens joined the 2023 celebration at Benkovski Stadium in Sofia, organized by the Mounted Police group. Small villages organized horse-races, the so-called kushia.

Attending the Todorovden celebrations in the village of Tsaratsovo (South Central Bulgaria), President Rumen Radev said that Todorovden is a symbol of the Bulgarian’s independent strive for freedom, as well as of the hope for new life on the eve of spring. “There are many customs and traditions that our people has preserved over the centuries, but with their vividness and authenticity the kushia are one of the most beloved holidays. They are also our link to our ancestors, who won glorious victories precisely with their masterful riding,” he said.