Christians dedicate Easter to Lazarus, whom Jesus resurrected.
Lazarus Day is always celebrated eight days before Easter and with it begins the preparation for Holy Week. The holiday is also called Lazaritsa, Lazar, Lazarova Saturday. Christians dedicate Lazarus Day to Jesus’ resurrected Lazarus.
Lazarus from Bethany and his sisters Martha and Mary received Jesus Christ in their poor home and believed in his mission. According to the Gospel, Lazarus fell ill and died when the Savior was in the lands beyond the Jordan River.
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However, the Messiah returned and resurrected the deceased, who later became the bishop of the flourishing Cypriot city of Kition.
Traditionally, green willow branches are plucked on Lazarov’s Day, which will decorate the doors the next day – Tsvetnitsa (Vrabnitsa).
Girls aged 6 to 12 – lazarkas – are included in the folk custom of Lazaruvane. They gather in groups of 6-7. Four of them are singers, two are “walkers” (dancers) and one is a “maid”. She leads the group and collects the presents. The girls go round the homes, play handcrafts and sing songs about health, fertility and marriage. The master of the house presents them with eggs, money, fruit and small gifts.
In the past on Lazarovden, the boys of the village asked for the hand of their chosen one. It is believed that a girl who has not lazared, she will not marry.
Name day is celebrated by Lazar, Lazarka, Lazarin, Lazarina, Lazo, Laska, Elizar.
