Kanelova House Tsarevo – guest house

Nestinarstvo – the so-called “walking on embers with bare feet” – originated before Christ as a pagan ritual performed by the ancient Thracians. Dancing on the embers in a trance, they welcomed the approaching summer, praised the name of the Sun God who brought fire with him, and prayed for health, success and fertility for the year.

The Nestinar ritual covered almost the entire territory of southeastern Thrace, including Bulgaria – Strandzha Mountain (villages Bulgari, Rezovo, Brodilovo, etc.), Turkey (Bunarkhisar) and Greece (Kosti, Agio Yani, Urgas, etc.). The belief is that the fire that is lit drives away evil spirits, diseases and misfortune, purifies and forgives the sins of those present at the ritual, making them stronger and calmer. Nestinari carry across the embers the sick for healing, and children and young people for longevity.

In 2009 the ritual was included in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage and in the National Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage “Living Human Treasures – Bulgaria”.