how do bulgarians celebrate christmas and new year
Once they are all together they start going from house to house singing Christmas carols. The night before — Christmas Eve (Badni vecher), is also very important. Christmas and New Year’s Eve are the most loved and widely celebrated public holidays in Bulgaria. David C. Pack. Categories: Congratulations and Best Wishes If you want to know how to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in Bulgarian, you will find the translation here. Here is no need to mention even the Christmas, New Year’s Eve … Reserve your table in a Traditional Bulgarian restaurant at least 3 months ahead of time, because as we said, Bulgarians love to celebrate and they do celebrate the whole December. This is because in Communist times the religious celebration of Christmas was discouraged. For Orthodox Christian Bulgarians, who follow the Julian calendar, New Year's Eve and Day are celebrated Jan. 13-14. New Years is a huge celebration for Bulgarians, it may even be a larger and more anticipated celebration than Christmas! Bulgaria's Orthodox Church follows the Gregorian calendar, which means its religious observances are in keeping with those in the West. Christmas celebration is one of the reasons to visit Bulgaria in winter. your password We prepare delicious things like stuffed peppers with rice or beans, grape leaves stuffed with rise, pumpkin dishes and traditional bread. Vegetables like stuffed peppers, as well as fruits and walnuts, are most commonly found on the table on Christmas Eve. Log into your account. There is also a loaf of bread with … – On the table must be served the traditional round, decorated ritual bread called “pita”. more information Accept. Welcome! It will be a tight and exciting time . If you want to know how we celebrate it, you can check out this question: How do Bulgarians celebrate Christmas? Many European countries celebrate New year eve on 25th December. This would traditionally be pork. The patting is usually done with a stick and is signifies good times to come the following year. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. Hello, my name is Maria – a travel blogger and adventurer from Bulgaria. After it is done, we know that Christmas is here and Jesus Christ was born. What about Christians and the New Year? Amonst other things they will eat banitsa which has a little good fortune message on a cocktail stick. About 140,000 of them will welcome holidays outside Bulgaria, according to statistics from the Institute for Tourism Analyzes and Assessments. Bulgarian Christmas Customs On the day of Christmas, the Bulgarians are allowed to eat meat. Bulgaria is no exception. All regions in Egypt have different magical ways to celebrate Christmas & New year season. This chewy rice powder cake has no distinct flavor, but people will either dip it in a soy sauce glaze and cook it, powder it with sweet soy powder, or cook it in a soup called お雑煮 ( ozouni ). We have amazing customs and traditions and most of them we keep alive. Christmas Eve or badni vecher is just as important.It is the last day of fasting, in which a different number of meatless dishes are served at a grand meal. You will learn a lot more about the way we celebrate if you join us on our Culture Tour. For Christians, the season, marked by the start of Advent, begins a period that culminates with the birth of Jesus. There will be a whopping 40 new Hallmark Christmas movies this year, and you can always revisit classics, such as It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street and Elf. I didn’t know anything about Bulgarian Christmas traditions, though. Millions celebrate New Year’s without knowing its origin. Exchanging gifts in the morning of 25 Dec. is very common among Bulgarian families. Exchanging gifts in the morning of 25 Dec. is very common among Bulgarian families. All Rights Reserved. Starting on the 25th, when we believe Jesus Christ was born. Tradition requires that after dinner the table should stay untouched until the morning. Likewise, I will sprinkle some amazing Christmas messages and new year wishes to your wives, husbands, girlfriends, boyfriends. The 20th is also the traditional 'new year' in Bulgarian culture. After all, the New Year isn’t a Christian holiday, right? New Year's Eve is spent visiting friends, making merry, eating lucky foods and making toasts with rakia (grape brandy) and other potent potables. Rather than going to lectures, on this day students organize huge parties with their fellows. In Bulgaria, Christmas is celebrated on December 25th. presented by Who Is David C. Pack? Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. ;), If the nuts are of good quality the year will be successful but if it’s hollow then you won’t be lucky…. Christmas Eve represents the last day of 40-day fasting, starting from 15th November. Traditionally, families get together around the fire and make wishes for the following year while consuming blood sausages made of pork. For more information check our privacy policy *. In Bulgaria, New Year celebrations are week-long affairs featuring processions, musical festivals, carnivals, and sporting events. What better way to celebrate the holiday than with a Christmas movie marathon? It is interesting that during the evening a group or several groups of young boys (“koledari”) go house to house and sing songs for health, wealth and happiness. Rakia – Bulgaria’s Most Popular Traditional Alcoholic Drink, Bulgarian Food | What to eat in Bulgaria | Traditional Dishes. In return the owners of the house give them some coins, fruits, specially baked pretzels and other treats. 87% of Bulgarians are going to celebrate Christmas. Watch Christmas Classics. At midnight they'll often put the radio/TV on to get the exact timing right, and often there will be great patriotism in singing the National Anthem. Categories . Stay Informed Subscribe Follow on Twitter Visit Us on Facebook. The Christmas eve has several Christians traveling to church to attend midnight mass covered from the cold winter climate. It is the time when the whole family gather together, ancient customs and traditions come into play and Christmas spirit is felt everywhere. On January 7, Bulgarians celebrate Ivanovden - a people's and religious holiday, celebrating the memory of St. John the Baptist - the last old-time prophet and baptist of Jesus. © 2021 Free Sofia Tour. Count down to the New Year no matter where you are in the world. They continue this to year end New Year Celebrations as Goa hosts many EDM and parties. On Christmas Eve we eat only vegan dishes (just like during the fasts) and they have to be an odd number. This year, my Yuletide chronicles take us to the eastern-European nation of Bulgaria to uncover their time-honored traditions. On Christmas day, after everyone has recieved their present we usually get together for a family meal. Christmas (Koleda or Rozhdestvo Hristovo) in Bulgaria is one of the most cherished holidays in the year. Just like in the West they leave cookies and milk for Santa. 5 Bulgarian Christmas facts and traditions. It is believed that in the New Year need for abundant table, in the center of which put the loaves (inside put 1 coin - who will get it, that will have good luck all year). They gather in the house of the man leading the group all dressed up in special clothes. The number of Bulgarians who will celebrate New Year’s Eve abroad has decreased compared to previous years. Тhe following two days we honor the people who carry the names Hristo, Hristina and Joseph on the 26th and people with the names Stefan, Stoyan, Stefka on the 27th. Christmas tree and carols are also important part of the celebration. More than half a million Bulgarians are expected to travel to celebrate the Christmas and New Year holidays. Many countries in Eastern Europe celebrate Christmas on January 7th as most Orthodox Churches use the old Julian Calendar, but the Bulgarian Orthodox Church uses the Gregorian calendar, so Christmas in on the 25th December. If you happen to celebrate Christmas in Bulgaria it will definitely be a worthwhile experience! Bad luck is predicted for the person who cracks a bad walnut. Tours on Christmas and New Year’s 2015/2016 December 22, 2015. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. New Year’s Eve is one of the largest global celebrations because it marks the last day of the year in the Gregorian calendar, December 31, before the New Year. How do you celebrate Christmas in your country? At the beginning of the feast a ceremonial log called “badnik” is put into the fireplace and should burn until the morning. New Year in the different countries ... Bulgarians celebrate Christmas on December 25, though this is somewhat unexpected because Bulgaria is an Orthodox country. It is a dried-fruit compote; – Onions, garlic, corn and other nuts are also included, as well as wine. On Christmas days all the families visit home to home and celebrate each other’s New Year. mp4 Download video mp3 Download audio. So I’m sure I would be a happy woman celebrating Christmas in Bulgaria In Ecuador, Christmas dinner is kinda boring. The intrest in European capitals like Paris and Rome has decreased, and the least number of Bulgarians tourists will celebrate New Year’s Eve in Dubai, … They stay on the table during the whole night. Koleduvane is a ritual, which happens at midnight on the 24th of December. Required fields are marked *, By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. Nowadays all Bulgarians have a decorated tree at home during the Christmas times, which usually stays until New Year’s eve or beyond. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Santa Claus is called “Dyado Koleda” which literally means Grandfather Christmas. 25. This would contain meat. Bulgarians do not decorate a Christmas tree until Christmas Eve, and painting nuts with gold and silver paint as ornaments. If you’re in … 27:31 God’s Holy Days & Man’s Holidays Subscribe. On that day, students celebrate the day of Saint Clement of Ohrid, the patron saint of Sofia University and of Bulgarian higher education. Your email address will not be published. Banitsa with fortunes. New Year: as well as the Russians, the Bulgarians are beginning to celebrate the feast in the evening on 31 December. Therefore they decided to dress up in all new, fun until the morning and arrange noisy festive celebrations. Do you find any similarities with Bulgaira? The traditional belief is that Virgin Mary visits homes during the night and feasts on what is left. New Years is a huge celebration for Bulgarians, it may even be a larger and more anticipated celebration than Christmas! 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. Learn more, Christmas Eve Dinner in Bulgaria, Photo by, Christmas tree and carols are also important part of the celebration. Christmas Eve Dinner in Bulgaria, Photo by Elena Chochkova licensed under CC by 3.0. Sometimes also would use red chilies because they were more colorful. Christmas is one of the most beloved holidays in Bulgaria and a time when families get together. The meatless tradition is respected even by the people who did not follow Christmas fasting. By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your personal data by this website. Christmas Eve called "Badni Vecher" is a very important day for Bulgarians. Usually there are seven or nine meals (twelve dishes are also accepted) but they have to be meatless. This is, in short, how the Christmas holidays are celebrated in Bulgaria. Our Cozy Christmas Party December 28, 2015 . However, even your employers and employees are left out of this amazing piece. (The Orthodox Christians follow the Julian calendar.) Should Christians participate in its festivities? NEW YORK — Christmas is more than just Santa Claus, bright lights and presents. It is believed that the more dishes on the table, the richer the next year will be. On this day, no meats … Your email address will not be published. This is because in Communist times the religious celebration of Christmas was discouraged. Some people put a coin in it and the person who finds the coin is believed to have good fortune for the rest of the year. Each year during Christmastime, I begin a new journey "In Search of Christmas" to discover how Christmas is celebrated in various regions of Europe and to bring these Christmas tidings to you! There are festivals, processionals, carnivals, and sporting events … How to Say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in Bulgarian. Christmas (Koleda or Rozhdestvo Hristovo) in Bulgaria is one of the most cherished holidays in the year. 01 January – New Year . Bulgaria’s Orthodox Church follows the Gregorian calendar, which means its religious observances are in keeping with those in the West. Now that Bulgarians are able to celebrate the traditional Christmas, the area her family lives is becoming more mainstream. 22 September: Independence Day: Ден на независимостта на България See Bulgarian Declaration of Independence. Traditionally it is a whole festive season around this time and in fact it is not over till mid-January, because Bulgarians celebrate many popular name days too. 72% follow the traditions on Christmas Eve, but just 13% observe the Christmas fasts, with the elderly accounting for the largest share. I started this blog 6 years ago with the aim to provide practical and interesting travel information and advice about Bulgaria and all the places I visit around the world. Santa Claus is called “, 30 free (or budget) things to do in London, 25 Perfect Weekend Getaways in Europe (Part I), Road trip in Bulgaria for 10 days – 8 cities, countless memories, 15 Things You Need to Know Before Visiting Bulgaria, Visiting Zermatt, Switzerland in Summer: Sun, Sights & Adventure. Back in the day when most Bulgarians were dealing with agriculture and livestock breeding there was a lot of free time in winter. The bread usually contains fortunes, which will reveal what the next year holds for each member of the family. But the highlights are, of course, Christmas Eve and the New Year’s. Bulgarians celebrate Christmas on December 25th. Fireworks on the stroke of midnight are common in the larger cities of Dubrovnik, Hvar, and … Ivanovden. Normally, this is a vegetarian meal, which encourages abundance in the coming year. Published by Free Sofia Tour at December 24, 2015.