Bango Vassili is the most awaited day. The tables were full with food and everybody could eat much.
All the people were anxious around the baked loaf and the tasty banitza. The children were going around the small round table. But they all were waiting for Bango Vassili to come.
Suddenly they heard songs from outside (the whole neighbourhood was feasting). The family went out to share the joy and the hopes of their neighbours.
Meanwhile the dog entered through the open door, smelled the pleasant flavour and ate the food.
The family came back. They were astonished. The old woman exclaimed:
‘Thanks God! Bango Vassili visited our house! He ate from our table, but he could have left at least for the children!’
A Parable about Bango Vassili
Once gadje (non-Roma) chased a Romani man, they wanted to hang him. But a shepherd called Vassil hid him. The shepherd was lame. Therefore Roma people used to call him bango (lame).
When gadje gave up chasing, the Romani man got out of his shelter and asked the shepherd what he wanted he wanted as a reward. The shepherd said:
‘I want all Roma people remember me and feast me on this day!’
For this reason Roma people devoted one day in the year when the widely open the doors waiting for Bango Vassili – to save the house and the family from the evil. Everybody eats, drinks, sings, and dances.
A Parable about Ihtimya
Roma people have several feasts they celebrate in a special way. One of them is Ihtimya or the Peter’s Day. It is celebrated on February 20th. It is the child’s day. Whoever has a firstborn male child, he has to find a rooster and slaughter it in the morning. They hang its head on the gate of the house. They powder the bloody side with ashes and spread the blood all over.
They make mekitsi and loaves for the girls and hand them over.
This is a cast left by the Lord. He has said that if they do it otherwise he would strike each house where a male child has been born.