Koledari, or Christmas carolers, go from house to house throughout Bulgarian villages on Christmas, starting at midnight on Christmas Eve. Bulgarian Christmas tradition. Since 1888, March 3 has become Bulgaria’s Day of Liberation and it was pronounced a National Holiday in 1978. Christmas Eve might be all-vegetarian, but on Christmas Day, it’s time for feasting on an enormous dinner that includes a main dish of some type of meat (often pork). It is believed that if the walnut is a good one the next year will be full of success, a bad one predicts bad luck. The festive dinner is also vegetarian and humble. Therefore, Christmas is celebrated on 25th of December and not like the traditional Eastern Orthodox which celebrates it on 7th of January. After all, this is the time when the entire family comes together. Why do we put garlic, honey, walnuts, and wheat on the table? And as soon as everyone is seated, why no one is allowed to leave the table? Bulgaria Christmas celebrations are known as 'Koleda' and start almost a week ahead and last till about the New Year. in Bulgaria. In Bulgarian culture, there is a central belief that the Clearly, 7 are the days of the week, the pregnancy lasts for 9 months and 12 are the months of the year. December would be a period of fasting and the 24th is the last day of it. Zelnik (pastry with sauerkraut) 10. Dec. December 18, 2012. by Lydia Tarr. Nowadays the young generation wraps small messages instead just to make it more fun. It's traditional to eat a special ring shaped caked called 'kolaks' on this day. Once the vegetarian fast has ended, everyone enjoys an enormous dinner on Christmas Day, with a main dish of some type of meat which is often pork. The koledaris’ make special preparations for these holiday performances. These nuts are cracked to predict success or failure for the coming year. Dec. 20th is the Day of St. Ignat, or Ignazhden, in Bulgaria. To be honest, the combination of this sweetness with the sauerkraut and the salty bean soup is absolutely my favourite, although many people find it strange. National Day Of Bulgaria – 3th of MarchOn this day, remembered in history as Bulgaria Liberation Day, the people of Bulgaria pause for a tribute. The Undiscovered Treasure on the Balkans | Tours By Locals & Guided Tours of Bulgaria, CHRISTMAS EVE – BULGARIAN TRADITIONS & CULTURE, Bulgaria Tours | Sofia Day Trips | Private Tours | Undiscovered Bulgaria, European Capital of Culture – Plovdiv 2019. Therefore the whole family becomes involved in performing the rituals. Walnuts 8. Families also get together and decorate Christmas trees with curios. In some regions, the elderly women will prepare “baklava” – a rich sweet dessert made of layers of tin unleavened dough filled with chopped nuts and held together with syrup made of sugar or honey. Bulgaria's markets are not the most famous in Europe. Some people get to this part on 24 December. Bulgarians celebrate Christmas on the same day Americans do, Dec. 25, though this is somewhat unusual because Bulgaria is an Eastern Orthodox country, and the traditional Eastern Orthodox celebration of Christmas lands on Jan. 7. Sarmi (sauerkraut roles filled with rice) 5. Bulgaria has its unique set of authentic traditions and customs, from Name days to a special day to ask for forgiveness, the famous Martenitsa tradition, and some confusing Liberation and Independence celebrations, and other worldwide celebrations but always with the distinctive Bulgarian twist. For adults, mothers, fathers and grandparents this celebration is time to visit their friends and families. They believe the seeds are symbol of the fertility, health and that they will help the maidens to get pregnant. If the walnut is full, then the person will be healthy, but if it’s empty or rotten – you probably can guess the answer. In Bulgaria, Christmas is celebrated on December 25th, which is unusual when you look at Bulgaria’s Orthodox history. The young men in Bulgaria parade around and sing Christmas carols for random strangers. Those who follow Bulgarian customs closely invite an odd number of guests for a meal that’s made up of an odd number of dishes and this meal follows the Orthodox 40-day Advent fast. Bulgaria is a predominantly Christian Orthodox country. Another special aspect of the  Bulgarian Christmas Eve meal is a round loaf of bread that has a coin baked inside. The water this evening must be sweet too. 2 January, 2016 ladysandra. 7 unusual Bulgarian customs and traditions 1. This tradition is said to protect against evil spirits. Saved by Fiore Bianco. Christmas in Bulgaria lasts three days! Honey 9. Bulgarian traditions - Christmas. Koledari, or Christmas carolers, go from house to house through villages. The hosts might leave the Christmas Eve dinner table as it is after everyone finishes eating and might not be cleared until the next morning to provide sustenance for the ghosts of ancestors who might come back to visit before Christmas morning. And as I’ve mentioned already, Bulgarians are superstitious … On this night the family will leave all the food on the table for the deceased people. The biggest honour of splitting the round loaf is always given to the oldest man in the house. Bulgarians tend to take their food very seriously around Christmas. Most Orthodox countries, such as Ukraine, celebrate Christmas on January 7th. Some preparation goes into the koledari’s performances, which begin at midnight on Christmas Eve. In the Bulgarian Orthodox Church there are two traditions of church singing - Eastern monodic (one-voice) singing and choral . Answer 1 of 4: I have listed some Bulgarian Christmas traditions below taken from the internet. @2021 UndiscoveredBulgaria – All Rights Reserved. As with other Bulgarian traditions, this one has a motivation behind it: this custom is said to protect against evil spirits. Cristmas eve in Bulgaria is another chance to observe Bulgarian traditions. Christmas wouldn't be the same without the pita, a round loaf of bread that is broken into pieces by the head of the house. One legend in Bulgaria is that Mary started her labor on 'Ignazhden', December 20th (Saint Ignatius of Antioch's Day) and she gave birth on Christmas Eve but the birth of Jesus wasn't announced until Christmas Day. It is the time when the whole family gather together, ancient customs and traditions come into play and Christmas spirit is felt everywhere. Although, some of these practices have lost importance over the time, there are still many Hungarians who keep them proudly every December. VIP TRAVEL PARTNER LTD.,registered under IDN 202436482 with the Registry Agency-Trade Register of the Republic of Bulgaria, holder of a tour operator licence N:RK-01-7081 issued by the Ministry of Tourism.The tour operator liability insurance N:0370010001952 is provided by EUROINS INSURANCE JSC. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. Christmas Traditions. The koledaris’ make special preparations for these holiday performances. Chasing the cross into the freezing waters: Jordan’s Day on Epiphany. Traditionally each member of the family cracks a walnut to determine their fate for the next year. Koledari, or Christmas carolers, go from house to house throughout Bulgarian villages on Christmas, starting at midnight on Christmas Eve. The first time of marking March 3 occurred in 1880, in honor of Enthronement of Russian Emperor Tzar Alexander the Second – Tzar Osvoboditel, meaning Tzar Liberator. Wheat 12. We celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December. In Bulgaria there is a common belief that the whole next year is correlated with Christmas Eve; the forthcoming year will be as good as this special evening. Bulgarian Christmas and the tradition of carol singers Many stars in the sky, much health in this house. Each family member is given a piece. It is believed to protect the house from evil, bad thoughts and against cold, of course. The oldest woman in the house will hide in the bread small items wrapped in tinfoil before she bakes it. Bulgaria’s Orthodox church follows the Gregorian calendar. The Christmas carolers are often rewarded with food in return for their singing as they go from house to house through the night. This is a quick look at a traditional Bulgarian Christmas eve. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try... 2. 1. If you really want to understand our traditions we will need to start with the very very beginning. Bulgaria’s Orthodox Church follows the Gregorian calendar, which means its religious observances are in keeping with those in the West. This was not too common in the past. On this day the food is only vegan, so no dairy products and meat. It is therefore not surprising that Christmas in Bulgaria is arguably the most popular religious holiday. In Bulgaria, Christmas Eve is a big thing and though we also celebrate Christmas Day, most of my childhood memories of Christmas are all of family dinners on the 24th. Baklava (the sweet dessert). We have prepared a list of some of the most important celebrations in Bulgaria, they are many … The Sofia Christmas Market is the ideal place for travelers to go during the month of December to experience Bulgarian Christmas cheer. The 20th is also the traditional 'new year' in Bulgarian culture. And though the holiday season may pose a general danger of overeating, you’re also required to obey a strict set of rules as to what to eat on Christmas Eve (24 December) and then on Christmas Day (25 December) itself. Christmas is a very important celebration in Bulgaria, both in religious and cultural aspect. Home / Bulgaria / Bulgarian Christmas Traditions. Other food connected to boiled wheat and stews are  a hit. The first piece of the bread he puts aside for the Mother of God so she won’t feel hungry ever again and another for the house. The Bulgaria's Orthodox Church follows the Gregorian calendar, which means its religious observances are in keeping with those in the West.. This is a vegetarian meal, which for its participants encourages abundance in the coming year. These groups of carolers are typically made up of young men dressed in traditional costumes, which vary from region to region. For the 46 days of Lent, church members abstain from all animal and fish products and by-products, including butter, cheese, milk, and caviar. One will be with sauerkraut (called “zelnik”) and the other one will be with grated pumpkin and brown sugar (called “tikvenik”). If you’re in Bulgaria during the winter holiday season, you’ll experience holiday festivities, Bulgarian style: Cities like Sofia are bedecked in Christmas lights, and the Sofia Christmas Market is the ideal place for travelers to go in December for a full-on Bulgarian Christmas experience. CHRISTMAS EVE – BULGARIAN TRADITIONS & CULTURE 1.Garlic, honey and wheat… Wait, what? Christmas Traditions in Bulgaria Christmas Markets. In the past people were looking after a pig and “fattening” it, so that they can eat it for the holiday. These groups of carolers are typically made up of young men dressed in traditional costumes which vary from region to region. We boil a variety of dried fruits, put sugar or honey in it and we call it “oshav” (ошав). Bulgarian Traditions: Bulgarian Christmas. It's one of the most favorite holidays for children because they get many presents. Therefore the whole family becomes involved in performing the rituals. The intrusion of Santa Claus into Bulgarian Christmas traditions is not the only new custom that many might recognize. The night before — Christmas Eve Photo credit: Elena Chochkova, Wikipedia. Every item has its own meaning. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. As per the common faith, Bulgarians believe that Mother Mary bore Christ on Christmas Eve, but only announced the birth the following day, which is celebrated as Christmas. published on 12/25/18 9:00 AM. Why the number of the dishes are so important and what meaning stands behind each one? Ok, so I know this is a bit too late to write about since Christmas already passed and so has even the New years, but like so many other I´ve been busy with celebrating the holidays my self with my family. The night before Christmas in Bulgaria is called Bandi night. 150. Sarmi is a meal where you either use leaves from grapes or white cabbage to fill them with rise, onion and parsley. Let’s start our journey through Bulgaria together and discover it all! Bulgarians are mainly Eastern Orthodox, but we follow the Gregorian... 2. Otherwise all family have their own traditions and recipes on what they consider must be on the table. This custom says that the person who finds the coin will be rewarded with good fortune. Many people and children look forward to this celebration. He is the one to say the blessing and the only one who can go and get the salt and pepper, (which we usually forget in the kitchen). eat only vegetarian food. 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You can also fill them with minced meat but then it won´t fit in for the vegetarian Christmas food. Women choose mainly food that swells like beans, rice, wheat etc. Before we seat down we need to make sure that everything is set because no one is allowed to leave the table before we finish with our food. Bulgarian Traditions . Walnuts is a must on the Bulgarian Christmas table! The Day of Saint Ignazhden. Bulgarian Christmas Traditions. Christmas is a very important time of year for us in Bulgaria, with lots of traditions to follow. It includes grains; vegetables, such as stuffed peppers; fruits; and nuts. Although, Сарми (Sarmi) is a popular dish around Christmas as well. Author: Albena Bezovska. Jan 2, 2017 - Bulgarian Christmas traditions http://dirbg.us. This is mainly a family celebration. Hungarian Christmas traditions are plenty and make Christmas a unique and special time to share with family and friends. Bulgarian Legend also has it that Mary was in labor from Dec. 20th until the birth of Christ. Bulgarian Christmas Traditions. The tradition of church singing in Bulgaria is more than thousand years old. These groups of carolers are typically made up of young men dressed in traditional costumes, which vary from region to region. Peppers (dry red peppers filled with potatoes or beans)  6. Did we get your attention? Pieces of this bread are shared around the table and might be placed near the house’s icon. So now that you know a little more about a typical Bulgarian Christmas, we hope you have an memorable and jolly Christmas yourself. See more ideas about bulgarian, christmas traditions, christmas. Personally I find that Bulgarian's hold their cultural traditions very close to their heart. Bending down he shows respect to the Earth, prays for a fertile and full harvest. The true Bulgarian tradition however, is to eat pork with cabbage on Christmas. Oshav (sweet water) 3.Bean soup 4. And of course there is always the Christmas presents, which as is mostly done in the UK, are opened on Christmas Day itself, for those who cannot wait until the morning or later in the day, it is also acceptable for the presents to be opened at midnight on Christmas Day. Here are some of the most popular facts and traditions about Christmas in Bulgaria: 1. The Bulgarians are very superstitious that’s why they will never seat without having garlic on their table. In Hungary, Christmas means time to be together with the loved ones. It is believed that Mary gave birth to Jesus on Christmas Eve. A classic Bulgarian Christmas Eve selection of dishes. Christmas (Koleda or Rozhdestvo Hristovo) in Bulgaria is one of the most cherished holidays in the year. A coin is hidden inside the pita and whoever gets it will have luck, health, and prosperity in the coming year. The exchange of Christmas gifts has become an important aspect in Bulgaria, especially for children. Christmas Traditions and Rituals in Bulgaria. 18. They might sound a bit weird but in the end, they will all make perfect sense to you. A belief that is central to Bulgarian culture is the legend that the Virgin Mary bore Christ on Christmas Eve but only announced his birth the day after, on Christmas Day. In my family we exchange gifts before dinner on Christmas day, however it’s a matter of personal choice. Walnuts are most especially found on the Bulgarian Christmas Eve table. In recent years, Bulgarians have been regularly tuning into a Christmas … Carnival against the evil spirits: Kukeri. For example, the coin is for wealth, the knob is for work, the willow branch is for health, the little piece of paper is for study and the bean is for productivity. And so it begins – 1. Easter Food Traditions . According to tradition, you should fast for the whole day, i.e. Christmas Traditions In Bulgaria Bulgarians follow the ethics of the Eastern Orthodox Church according to which the forty day fasting period and the much adored Christmas Eve meal are prominent. Bulgarian Christmas: In Bulgaria there is a common belief that the whole next year is correlated with Christmas Eve; the forthcoming year will be as good as this special evening. I guess you’ve heard about the Christmas markets in Europe, the red wine, the hand-made decorations, the music, lights, and the traditional food. Balkan Mountains Black sea Danube region Rhodope Mountains Rose Valley Thracian Region, UNESCO Culture and Tradition Romance and Wedding Sea and Nature Spa and Wellness Sport and Adventure. Tikvenik (pastry with grated pumpkin) 11. In Bulgaria, Christmas Eve (Badni Vecher) is associated with more activity than Christmas Day itself. Christmas in Bulgaria is a joyful holyday. Bread 2. You can see a small pot with honey as a symbol of the “sweet life” and walnuts to predict the health of the family members. Bulgarian Christmas - Bulgarian Traditions - Invest Bulgaria.com. Bean soup, sauerkraut leafs filled with rice and stuffed dry peppers with potatoes are only 3 of the main dishes. Of course, there is our famous Banitsa (the filled pastry usually with eggs and cheese), but on this day you will find it with two different fillings. In Bulgarian Orthodox Church tradition, the Lenten fast begins on Zagovezni, the Sunday six weeks before Easter. To cook with beans are very popular among many Bulgarian family’s. The Eastern monodic singing observes the tradition of Greek and Byzantine music as well as the requirements of the eight-voices polyphonic canon of the Eastern Orthodox Church. But, do you know why on Christmas Eve in Bulgaria you will find either 7, 9 or 12 different dishes? If you're in Bulgaria during the winter season, you will see cities like Sofia bedecked in Christmas lights. Fresh fruits 7. Bulgarian Traditions The Christmas traditions are an integral part of the festive season and these typically include fasting, enjoying special meals, attending church and singing carols around the village. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A PRIVATE TOUR AND WANT TO DISCOVER MORE THAN THE TOURIST SIGHTS, THAN YOUR GUIDES ARE WAITING FOR YOU…. Traditions Bulgarian Christmas food. The Bulgarian Orthodox church recommends 13 different meals for Christmas Eve, all vegetarian, and the odd number represent luck. Believe me, there is no a single Christmas’s dinner when we seat on the table before we count the meals. The koledari are rewarded with food in return for their services. Traditionally, it’s all based on religious customs (Orthodox Christianity).