On January 6th Bulgarians celebrate Epiphany Day or Yordan 's Day. On this day, after the special church service, the priest throws a cross into water. Young men throw themselves in, despite the cold water and freezing temperatures typical of this time of year, and retain the cross from the water. The priest sprinkles the attendees with a bouquet of basil and everyone goes home for their holiday lunch. The feast will sometimes continue uninterrupted to the next day - Ivan's Day, when St. John the Baptist is honored. For all those who are named Ivan or Yoan (the Bulgarian equivalents of John) it is very pleasant, but it is also risky as the holiday is accompanied by pouring water on them.
