January 21st is Babinden

According to the Bulgaria Gazette, "Babinden" (Grandmother's Day) is a Bulgarian holiday, celebrated on January 8th or 21st.  It is the day to honor the grandmothers who served as midwives in villages of the past.  

The day is related closely to family traditions that thank the women, who gave birth to all the children of the family.

Babinden is among the biggest female Bulgarian holidays, and is dedicated to the women that served as midwives, and also to young brides that just gave birth. The rites on this day mostly involve honoring the elderly women that helped younger ones as they gave new life.

I joined the Babas - who got creative with their costumes - to take photos as they visited homes and business receiving blessings - bon bons, money and kind words.