Nestinarstvo(Barefoot Dancing on Fire) - Ancient Bulgarian Ritual

Barefoot dancing on fire? Yes, it is possible, and you can see it in Bulgaria.

It is an ancient ritual, mixture of Eastern Orthodox beliefs and old pagan sun cult. From 2009 it is in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Although it can be seen like a tourist attraction at many places, the original ritual is performed only in a few bulgarian villages in Strandza Mountains. It is usually performed on the square of the village in front of the whole population on the day of Sts. Constantine and Helen or the day of the village's patron saint. The dancers (nestinari) dance on smouldering embers and it is thought that they reach a religious state of trance while dancing, explaining why their feet don't burn and they allegedly don't feel pain. Their powerful faith keeps their feet from burning :)