Nestinarstvo or Fire dancing is a typical Bulgarian custom that has its roots in the remote times of heathenism. The most attractive and specific thing about it is the dancing on smouldering embers. That custom is still performed in the legendary Balgari village, which is located in the picturesque Strandzha Mountain. The ritual is performed mainly on the St. Constantine and St. Helen’s Day – on the 3rd and 4th of June. All villagers take part in it, but fire dancing is only for those nestinari who are professionals. In the past only women were fire dancers (nestinarki). The belief was that barefoot dancing on fire will redress the sins of everybody in the village and that fire drives away evil spirits and misfortune.
It is believed that fire dancers (nestinari) carrying ill people in their hands while walking on the embers will heal them. Children and juveniles also take part in the ritual for longevity.

It is amazing that medical examinations of the nestinari have found out that the skin of their feet is tender, without any traces of burning. A curious fact is that objects that have fallen in the fire, for example headscarves, never burn. Eyewitnesses state that while dancing the nestinari go into a trance and even if they fall down, they stand up and continue dancing without any consequences. The nestinari themselves may not explain their talent and define it as a gift of the saints, "a charisma" that finds the worthy.