Christmas is one of the brightest Christian holidays, if not the brightest. Christmas in Bulgaria is the time of year that we all look forward to, in which dreams are a little bigger than usual - a time when Christmas magic prevails! Our ancestors also called the holiday Christmas or Great Christmas. Some of the traditions and customs around the holiday have changed, others not so much…
The table
The Christmas Eve table is cluttered with an odd number of lean meals. Traditional for the country are typical foods, such as oshav of dried fruits, beans, boiled wheat, bread. in which people did not have supermarkets, but relied on their own labor. Red wine is also present, because it symbolizes the blood of Jesus Christ. The oldest man breaks off a piece of bread, which he places in front of the icon of the Mother of God, and then everyone starts eating. All this has been intact over the centuries. There is also a modern tradition that we have created - the placement of good luck in the pieces of bread. So everyone can see what awaits him next year.
Find the best holiday offers here:
Christmas Eve
A very old custom is to place a special tree - a Christmas tree in the hearth on the night before Christmas. The table was the concern of the women, while the men were tasked with bringing a large tree, usually an oak, into the house. In addition to keeping the fire burning all night, the family knew what the year would be like: if the fire was raging, the year was expected to be fertile and rich. Corner are the Bulgarians, who still observe this custom. But on the other hand, nowadays we decorate the whole house with Christmas decorations, balls, garlands, lights and at least one big Christmas tree. The whole transformation of the home manages to create the necessary Christmas spirit.
See also: 5 great suggestions, how to make Christmas 2022 even more cozy and special
Christmas
We cannot fail to mention the most distinctive feature of the Bulgarian Christmas - the carolers. The carolers are young men who start going from house to house after midnight on Christmas Eve. It is believed that supernatural beings, such as karakonjuli, goblins and vampires, come out then. And since ancient times, people have believed that carolers have the power to cast out these evil spirits. The songs they sing are for health and prosperity. And the owners greet them warmly and impatiently, giving them ties. Fortunately, this tradition is still observed in some parts of Bulgaria.
We have kept many of the Bulgarian traditions alive, and modern and innovative ideas go hand in hand with them. Christmas is a celebration of family cohesion, faith and great hopes. And according to another tradition from that time, on the night before Christmas the sky opens and all wishes are fulfilled. So do not miss the opportunity to ask for something from the heart and get it!
See more:
5 interesting places for photo tourism in Bulgaria
5 little known but extremely beautiful places in the Rhodopes
5 selected locations in Pirin
2 Comments
Congratulations!
Indeed, the time before Christmas, preparing for the holiday, gathering the family and all the rituals described above are the most wonderful time of the year. Especially in these difficult and troubled times.
🙂