FESTAT E TË RINGJALLJES SË NATYRËS NDËR SHQIPTARË
FEAST DAYS OF NATURE REVIVAL AMONG ALBANIANS

Summary/Abstract: Even though it holds the name of a wild Roman god of the war the month March in its essence is a month of changes, great positive turnabouts since the ancient periods of human development and also of nature revival. One of most relevant events happening during this month is spring equinox when day and night are of the same length which this year in 2011 happened on March 20th at 23, 21 minutes. During the March month among Albanians are celebrated feast days such: “Dita e verës/Summer Day” on March 14th in which case in lots of the regions in Albania are cooked sweets called ballokume and are practiced different rites from early morning of that day. This feast is particularly characteristic for Elbasan and its district and it is related to the ancient feast having to do with Illyrian goddess -Diana Candaviensis, respectively Diana of the Illyrian tribe of kandavi (who lived in the middle valley of the river Shkumbin) which according to the beliefs had her residence in a mountain near present times Elbasan. On March 19th was marked among Albanians the day of Saint Joseph/ Shën Jozefit when was prepared spinach pie called “pie with money (inside which was placed a coin money) that symbolized regreenness of the nature. On March 21st or 22nd Dervisheseven today celebrate with ziqër and different ceremonies the Day of Nevruz which for them symbolizes the birthday of imam Ali but also the end of the winter season, revival of the nature and the beginning of a new year. Catholic Albanians on March 25th celebrate the feast “The Message of God”, “the Day of Lady” or “The Day of the Lady Nunciatë” as a remembrance in the day when, according to Christian tradition, the leading angel Gabriel communicated to the Saint Mary the news that God had selected her to give birth to Jesus Christ (an event which is mentioned in Gospel according to Luke and also in the Qur’an), and in this day they are fed with only oil, wine and fish, whilst orthodox Albanians at the same day celebrate the Feast called Gospelism “Ungjillizmi” or “Vangjelizmoi” while some other Balkan nations celebrate the Feast called “Blagovesti”. Among the population this day is known also as “The Day of the Revival of Nature/Dita e Ringjalljes së Natyrës”. The day of March 25th among population is known as “Day of Bells” or “Day of Rings” when children go out in the fields and according to the ancient custom by strumming of the rings they send off the snakes. The line of the nature revival feasts in the month of March continues with the “Day of nettles” on April 2nd, then with “Llazoret” coming in the first half of April, a characteristic Feast for southern Albania and Arbëreshes of Italy, in which case, besides other rites, goes on lamentation of Saint Llazar, and with the “Day of Saint George/ Shëngjegji” on May 6th.

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