4. Winter Holidays in Bulgaria
December
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
St. Varvara’s St. Sava’s Day St. Nikola’s
Day Day
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Christmas
Eve
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
5. Winter Holidays in Bulgaria
Religious holidays, pagan holidays, and Christmas
traditions are celebrated throughout the winter
months in Bulgaria. Bulgaria's strong folk traditions
are celebrated with a variety of winter festivals that
take place from December to February
6. December 4th – St. Varvara’s Day
• St. Varvara is respected
for being a protector
against the smallpox and
other diseases.
• Church Holiday:
St. Varvara, sabred after
cruel sufferings for the
sake of her
determination not to
reject her Christian faith.
7. December 4th – St. Varvara’s Day
Only women take part in the celebration.
Bulgarians also call it “Female Christmas”.
8. December 4th – St. Varvara’s Day
Ritual Table:
Honey loaf, a bowl
containing honey, salt,
pepper and a bottle
containing water are put
by the fires.
Another custom is
to cook beans.
9. “Varvara boils,
Sava kneads
and Nicholas treats."
December 4th – St. Varvara’s Day
December 5th – St. Sava’s Day
December 6th – St. Nikola’s Day
10. December 6th – St. Nikola’s Day
/ Nikulden /
The Day of Saint Nicholas
(the Miracle Worker) is a
major winter festival
celebrated by all Bulgarians.
According to the myths, St.
Nicholas makes winds rage
and cease, he can walk on
the seas, and whenever there
is a ship in trouble, he would
save it.
11. December 6th – St. Nikola’s Day
/ Nikulden /
This Saint is protector of sailors and
fishermen. His festival honours the marine
element, seas, rivers and lakes.
12. December 6th – St. Nikola’s Day
/ Nikulden /
The offering is fish, carp as a rule, because it is
considered the Saint’s servant. The fishermen would
sail out early in the
morning to catch
fresh fish.
13. December 6th – St. Nikola’s Day
/ Nikulden /
Defferent kinds of fish dishes are served on
the festive table but the most traditional of
all is a stuffed carp ( Ribnik )
Like most ancient people our slav ancestors devided the year according to the movement of the Sun and Moon
Like most ancient people our slav ancestors devided the year according to the movement of the Sun and Moon The Sun which gives light and warmth, and influences nature and man is served for measuring time
This holiday is connected with Saint Varvara's Day and Saint Nicholas' Day. On this day rituals are not performed. The day passes mainly in preparing for the table for Saint Nicholas' Day. In some places cutting and sawing are avoided. Women do not touch sharp objects Old Bulgarians always say: "Varvara boils, Sava kneads and Nicholas treats."
For Orthodox Christians, Christmas comes after 40 days and nights of fasting. The forty-day Advent, started on November 15, finishes on this day. Folk beliefs hold it that the Mother of Jesus began her labors on St. Ignatius’ Day and gave birth to God’s son on Christmas Eve, but that she told of it only on the next day. Throughout the fasting period, Orthodox Bulgarians will avoid alcohol and animal products. Even the festive dinner on the eve of Christmas is vegetarian and includes no meat, cheese, milk, eggs or animal oils.
Bulgaria's Orthodox Church recommends 13 different foods on the Christmas-eve meal (salt, pepper and sugar are seen as separate foods). The foods are vegetable and odd in number for luck. The Christmas Eve dinner table may not be cleared until the next morning to provide sustenance for the ghosts of ancestors who may come back to visit before Christmas morning. V egetarian meal includes grains, vegetables, fruits, and nuts. Walnuts, in particular, are found on the Bulgarian Christmas Eve table. These nuts are cracked in order to predict success or failure for the coming year. Another special aspect of the the Christmas Eve meal is the round loaf of bread, into which a coin is baked. The person who finds the coin will be rewarded with good fortune.
At midnight on Christmas, the koledari (carollers) start their round. Only boys participate as major figures in the ritual known as Koleduvane. Its purpose is to wish health, good luck and fertility to the heads of households, to their houses, livestock, land . Today, Christmas is still a very special family holiday in modern Bulgaria
We presented you just a few winter traditions from the variety of colourful Bulgarian habits and customs.
At midnight on Christmas, the koledari (carollers) start their round. Only boys participate as major figures in the ritual known as Koleduvane. Its purpose is to wish health, good luck and fertility to the heads of households, to their houses, livestock, land . Today, Christmas is still a very special family holiday in modern Bulgaria
