Washing Rituals from Bulgaria explores the enduring traditions of Bulgarian folk magic, Balkan folklore and traditional healing rituals through the study of ceremonial washing practices still performed in parts of Southeastern Europe today.
Drawing upon original field research, folkloric sources and ethnographic evidence, Dr Georgi Mishev examines the ritual use of sacred water, healing herbs and magical plants in traditional Bulgarian washing rituals. These practices combine water gathered from powerful natural sources with herbs, charms and ritual objects believed to possess protective and curative properties. Within Bulgarian folk tradition, washing rituals are used to address a wide range of physical, emotional and spiritual conditions.
Traditional healers employ these rituals to treat ailments including fever, infertility, epilepsy and childhood illnesses, as well as conditions associated with fear, anxiety and spiritual imbalance. Washing rituals are also used to remove harmful magic, break curses, counteract the evil eye and restore harmony between the individual and the unseen world.
Particular attention is given to the role of supernatural beings in Balkan folklore, including the zmey and samodivas - powerful nature spirits once venerated in local belief and still remembered in Bulgarian folk songs, legends and oral traditions. Ritual washing practices continue to be used as remedies for illnesses and disturbances believed to be associated with these otherworldly entities.
Inspired by stories shared by his grandmother during childhood, Dr Mishev undertook extensive research into the living traditions of Bulgarian folk healing and ritual magic. This volume presents personal observations, interviews with traditional healers, ritual practitioners and folk magicians, alongside valuable ethnographic records documenting practices that have survived from earlier generations.
Combining folklore studies, cultural history and first-hand fieldwork, Washing Rituals from Bulgaria offers a rare insight into the living magical traditions of the Balkans. It is an essential resource for readers interested in Balkan folklore, Bulgarian folk magic, traditional healing practices, European folk religion, ethnography and the survival of ancient ritual customs in the modern world.
About the Author
Dr Georgi Mishev is a Bulgarian author, folklorist and researcher specialising in Balkan folklore, Bulgarian folk magic, traditional rituals and the ancient religious traditions of Southeastern Europe. His work focuses on the preservation of magical beliefs, ritual customs and sacred traditions within Bulgarian and Balkan folk culture.
He holds degrees in Russian and German Philology, Cultural-Historical Heritage and Heritage Preservation. His doctoral research, Bulgarian Traditional Culture as an Information Resource about Magic in Ancient Southeastern Europe, examined the survival of ancient magical traditions within modern Bulgarian folklore. Through extensive fieldwork and direct engagement with traditional healers and ritual practitioners, Dr Mishev has become one of the leading contemporary researchers of Bulgarian folk rituals, magical traditions and Thracian cultural heritage.
