About the name Elena
Etymology & meaning
Elena derives from the Greek Ἑλένη (Helenē), most often linked to ἕλη / σέλας — "light", "brightness", "torch". It is among the oldest names in the European tradition, known since the Homeric epics. Bulgarian gives Елена, Еленка, Ели, Лена, Ленче and Нели, and through the Russian line Elena and Alena.
History & patron saint
The patron is Saint Helena, Equal-to-the-Apostles — mother of the emperor Constantine the Great. Tradition holds that she made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, where she discovered the True Cross on which Christ was crucified. She and her son were canonised as Equal-to-the-Apostles for their part in establishing Christianity in the Roman Empire. Their joint feast, Saints Constantine and Helena, falls on 21 May.
Traditions & customs
The feast of Saints Constantine and Helena carries Bulgaria's most spectacular custom — nestinarstvo. In the Strandzha mountains, nestinari dance barefoot on live embers holding the icons of the two saints; the practice is inscribed on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage. Outside Strandzha the day is kept in the usual way — guests, flowers and a table at the height of spring.
Popularity & notable bearers
Elena is among the most enduringly popular female names in Bulgaria — classical and at the same time internationally legible. It was borne by the Bulgarian tsaritsa Elena, wife of Tsar Ivan Asen II. One of the loveliest old towns in the Balkan range also carries the name Elena.
Suitable gifts
Spring flowers are the most natural gift for the day. An icon of Saints Constantine and Helena, a piece of jewellery, or something connected with travel — a nod to the saint's pilgrimage — all suit well.