AN ELDERLY BULGARIAN WOMAN LIGHTS CANDLES IN BULGARI, 2003-06-03 (photo)

Dochka, a 78-year old Bulgarian, lights candles in front of icons of St. Constantine and Elena in a chapel in the small village of Bulgari, some 500 km south-east from the capital Sofia, on the day of the ancient Bulgarian ritual of fire dancing on June 3, 2003. Historians say that fire dancing, in which performers dance barefoot on smouldering embers, is associated with the cult of the sun and its analogue on earth, the fire. The ritual begins in the morning, when dancers form a procession, carrying icons and praying for health, prosperity and rich harvest. The fire is being lit in the afternoon by the main fire dancer, called Nestinar. The dancing itself is performed after sunset to the accompaniment of a drum and a bagpipe. REUTERS/Oleg Popov OP/AS