About the name Konstantin
Etymology & meaning
Konstantin comes from the Latin Constantinus, from constans — "constant", "steadfast", "firm". The name entered Bulgarian through the Byzantine tradition and is among the oldest in use here. The familiar forms are Косьо, Коце, Дино and the southern Костадин, with the feminine Константина, Костадинка and Дина.
History & patron saint
The patron is Saint Constantine the Great, Equal-to-the-Apostles — the first Roman emperor to embrace Christianity, who issued the Edict of Milan (313) granting the faith freedom and convened the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea (325). The city he founded, Constantinople, remained the centre of the Orthodox world for over a millennium. He is celebrated with his mother, Saint Helena, on 21 May. In Bulgaria the name also travels as the southern form Kostadin, which in Thrace and the Rhodopes is more common than the literary variant.
Traditions & customs
The day is kept together with Elenovden and, in Strandzha, is bound to the nestinari fire-dances over embers. Elsewhere Kostadinovden is marked with guests, ritual bread and a spring table. In some regions the day is treated as the boundary after which the last summer crops go into the ground.
Popularity & notable bearers
Konstantin is a classic name with long usage in Bulgaria, while the southern form Kostadin carries a strong tradition of its own. It was borne by Revival-era scholars, among them Konstantin Fotinov, publisher of the first Bulgarian magazine.
Suitable gifts
An icon of Saints Constantine and Helena, a book of history, or a bottle of good wine for the spring table all suit. Flowers for the day are traditionally spring ones.