Georgia celebrates Saint Barbara’s Day

Orthodox Georgians are celebrating the Day of Saint Barbara – the great Martyr who was tortured by her own father after she converted to Christianity.

The occasion has been celebrated in Georgia since the 9th Century. The Feast of Saint Barbara is connected with an old Georgian folk tradition to bake lobiani (bean pies). Each year on December 17, Georgians cooking bean pies to show respect for Saint Barbara.

When the Divine Liturgy is holding in the Orthodox churches for the Saint Barbara, people are baking bean pies at the same time in every region of Georgia. Photos by N. Alavidze/Agenda.ge

December 17 is also considered as the Day of Destiny in Georgia. According to this superstition, how this day passes for a person will reflect on what the next year will bring for that person. For example if today is positive, next year will also be positive.

• Read also: The Feast of Saint Barbara with Pagan Traditions

Similarly, Georgians also believe that the first person to visit their house as a guest will influence how much luck the family will have the following year. In Georgia, the first person to come to a family home after midnight and congratulate them on the holy day is called ‘Mekvle’.