Christmas in Bulgaria

Christmas Eve Christmas Eve or “Budni vecher” in Bulgarian is one of the most important family holidays. It is dedicated to home, hearth, and the dead relatives who are also considered part of the family. In some parts of Bulgaria is also known as the “Small Christmas”. Its name is believed to come from “бъда/ bada” or to be in English, because on this day people wish each other all the best in the future. Christmas Eve or “Budni vecher” in Bulgarian is one of the most important family holidays. It is dedicated to home, hearth, and the dead relatives who are also considered part of the family. In some parts of Bulgaria is also known as the “Small Christmas”. Its name is believed to come from “бъда/ bada” or to be in English, because on this day people wish each other all the best in the future.

Christmas Eve dishes Christmas Eve table should be plentiful On the table there must be 7, 9 or 12 meatless dishes. On the table are served boiled corn, boiled beans, cabbage or vine leaves stuffed with rice, peppers stuffed with beans or rice, pickles, onions, garlic, dried fruits, honey and walnuts, apples, pumpkin pie, wine and traditional Bulgarian drink – rakia, the traditional round loaf called “Banitsa”. Christmas Eve table should be plentiful, but the food on it - an odd number and meatless. Festive table ranks on straw on the ground in the southeast corner of the room under the iconostasis. In the four corners of the room are placed a walnut. This is done to illuminate the four corners of the world.   On the table there must be 7, 9 or 12 dishes. These are three of the sacred Judaic numbers. Table must be loaded with all that is produced in the household: boiled corn, boiled beans, cabbage or vine leaves stuffed with rice, peppers stuffed with beans or rice, pickles, onions, garlic, dried fruits, honey and walnuts, apples, pumpkin pie, wine and traditional Bulgarian drink – rakia. Traditional round loaf called “Banitsa” is also prepared. Figures on it represented God, fruits, grains, domestic animals, tools for work, and people. There is a hidden coin in the bread which will bring luck to the person who has found it. The eldest person breaks the bread into pieces with the words saying: “Come, Oh God, to have dinner.” and the first piece is placed under the icon of the Virgin Mary, the second one is for the house and the next pieces are for the oldest to the youngest members of the family. It is necessary that all members get off the table at the same time. Everyone should try all the dishes in order to have luck in the next year. Lastly, selected nuts are guessing if the year will be tough for the person, if walnut is full, he or she will be healthy. When the dinner is over, the table is not cleared until the following morning. Table is not cleared all night to prevent escape luck and it is also believed that when a household falls asleep, deceased relatives come to dinner. Everyone should try all the dishes in order to have luck in the next year. Selected nuts are guessing if the year will be tough for the person. The table is not cleared until the following morning.

The dishes have SYMBOLIC meanings centering around FERTILITY and ABUNDANCE:

FERTILE, ABUNDANT and WEALTHY. Bean soup or another legume soup like pea or lentil so the coming year WILL BE: FERTILE, ABUNDANT and WEALTHY.

Honey so that Life will be SWEET:

Stuffed peppers, grape or cabbage leaves stuffed with either beans or rice again so the next year will be abundant and crops and families will be fertile.

tell fortunes for what the new year HOLDS. Nuts, especially, WALNUTS to tell fortunes for what the new year HOLDS.

Christmas Eve Fire Before the festive table is laid on Christmas Eve, the householder should put a Chripear, oak or beechstmas log-especially picked thick part of a tree into the fire. This tree is called “Badnik”. A pre-dug hole is made in the tree and red wine, olive oil and incense are poured for fertility. The Badnik is left to burn through the night on Christmas Eve. There is a belief that the sparks from the fire says what will be the year. The more they are, the richer will be harvest. The tradition is that before the festive table is laid on Christmas Eve, the householder should put a Christmas log-especially picked thick part of a pear, oak or beech tree into the fire with the words: “More sparks in the fire, more chickens, lambs and calves in this home.” But before that a pre-dug hole is made in it and red wine, olive oil and incense are poured for fertility. This tree called “Badnik” is left to burn through the night on Christmas Eve. This custom is an echo of old Slavic beliefs in our country. According to them, the day when it was supposed to be born child, the man lit a tree to chase away the spirits of the dead, premature babies, dead, evil wizard and the weird sisters. After conversion Bulgarian people kept this custom, but to celebrate the birth of the Savior. There is a belief that the sparks from the fire says what will be the year. The more they are, the richer will be harvest.

Carols singers At midnight on Christmas Eve carolers start their rounds, visiting all the houses of their neighbors. Carolers can be only boys and unmarried men. They are dressed in their best clothes, covered up with a special cloak called “jamurluk”, with fur caps on their heads decorated with box-tree braces, popcorn strung on red thread, prunes and figs. The leader (“Stanenik”) of the band pronounces blessings on the family and the house, then all sing songs for wealth and health each family member, for which they are rewarded with small change, meat, bacon, flour, beans, onion, wine and walnuts. Part of the collected money is donated for the church, school or community center. The host invites the singers to the table and gives them a treat and then young, unmarried women from the family give them special ring shaped bread called “koleden kravay” In some villages at midnight on Christmas Eve carolers start their rounds, visiting all the houses of their neighbors. Carolers can be only boys and unmarried men. They are dressed in their best clothes, covered up with a special cloak called “jamurluk”, with fur caps on their heads decorated with box-tree braces, popcorn strung on red thread, prunes and figs. The leader (“Stanenik) of the band pronounces blessings on the family and the house, then all sing songs for wealth and health each family member, for which they are rewarded with small change, meat, bacon, flour, beans, onion, wine and walnuts. Part of the collected money is donated for the church, school or community center.   The host invites the singers to the table and gives them a treat and then young, unmarried women from the family give them special ring shaped bread called “koleden kravay”

Christmas Day Christmas tree and Santa Claus have become very common in Bulgaria. People decorate their houses and children write a letter to Santa. On the Christmas morning children open their presents, which were left by Santa under the Christmas tree. Religious people go to the church to celebrate the brief of Jesus. It is believed that on Christmas Day the sky opens and everything illuminates for a moment, however, only religious ones can see it. Christmas tree and Santa Claus have become very common in Bulgaria. People decorate their houses and children write a letter to Santa. On the Christmas morning children open their presents, which were left by Santa under the Christmas tree.   Religious people go to the church to celebrate the brief of Jesus. It is believed that on Christmas Day the sky opens and everything illuminates for a moment, however, only religious ones can see it.

Wish something! And remember… at Christmas, a man could want whatever they want, wishes come true. Wish something!

Marry Cristmas

Plamen Plamenov Petrov

I Wish you Marry Christmas Ivo Martinov

And Happy New Year

LOVE PEACE JOY CHEER IN YOUR LIFES Ivaylo Zhelyazkov

Alexander Pamporov

Alexander Pamporov

Konstantin Milev