Every item has its own meaning. Other food connected to boiled wheat and stews are  a hit. December 20th is the Day of St. Ignazhden. 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. A group of men, dressed in national costumes, visit every house in their town or village and sing Bulgarian Christmas carols. Christmas festivities and celebrations in Bulgaria begin on December 24th – Christmas Eve. But, do you know why on Christmas Eve in Bulgaria you will find either 7, 9 or 12 different dishes? A tradition rooted in antiquity, survakane is basically children (lightly) beating adults on the back with elaborately… 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. The Bulgarian Orthodox church recommends 13 different meals for Christmas Eve, all vegetarian, and the odd number represent luck. Koledari and Survakari. Santa is known as 'Dyado Koleda' (Дядо Коледа) which means Grandfather Christmas. People around Bulgaria are honoring with their families Christmas traditions celebrating Christmas Eve Saturday night. 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. Christmas season starts off from 20th of December and extends up to the 26th of the month. The Kukeri tradition is an ancient and mystical pagan tradition. According to tradition, you should fast for the whole day, i.e. They wear traditional furry caps and carry colorful cudgels. All towns are decorated with Christmas lights and trees. Sarmi (sauerkraut roles filled with rice) 5. Nowadays the young generation wraps small messages instead just to make it more fun. This is a vegetarian meal, which for its participants encourages abundance in the coming year. 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). These nuts are cracked in order to predict success or failure for the coming year. Honey 9. Christmas is a very important time of year for us in Bulgaria, with lots of traditions to follow. The last day of the fast is Christmas Eve when the family gathers for a vegan meal. This tradition is said to protect against evil spirits. Bulgaria’s Orthodox Church follows the Gregorian calendar, which means its religious observances are in keeping with those in the West. And as soon as everyone is seated, why no one is allowed to leave the table? The dishes have symbolic meanings centering around fertility On this day the food is only … Traditionally Christmas Eve (Badni Vecher) dinner in Bulgaria would be vegetarian marking the end of a 40 day fast. Christmas Trees now popular in Bulgaria and towns are decorated with Christmas lights. Therefore the whole family becomes involved in performing the rituals. Traditionally, it’s all based on religious customs (Orthodox Christianity). My first question to Kristian was how do Bulgarian Orthodox people celebrate Christmas? It is common to prepare 7, 9 or 12 dishes. Walnuts are most especially found on the Bulgarian Christmas Eve table. Christmas Eve. CHRISTMAS EVE – BULGARIAN TRADITIONS & CULTURE 1.Garlic, honey and wheat… Wait, what? 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. On Christmas Eve, traditional Bulgarian pitka bread is supposed to be made without any animal products whatsoever, including butter and eggs. Budnik (transliterated), (Bulgarian: Бъдник), refers to a log brought into the house and placed on the fire on the evening of Christmas Eve, a central tradition in Slavic Christmas celebrations in Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro, much like a yule log in other European traditions. And so it begins – 1. For Bulgarians, this is the most important celebration out of the three days of Christmas. Believe me, there is no a single Christmas’s dinner when we seat on the table before we count the meals. You won’t believe, but it is delicious! Christmas in Bulgaria lasts three days! 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. Customarily an odd number of meals will be prepared. The koledaris’ make special preparations for these holiday performances. Pieces of this bread are shared around the table and might be placed near the house’s icon. Sarmi is a meal where you either use leaves from grapes or white cabbage to fill them with rise, onion and parsley. Bread 2. The Christmas carolers are often rewarded with food in return for their singing as they go from house to house through the night. This can be said because the country fulfils the two main characteristic of the Orthodox celebrations - fasting during Advent and preparing the symbolic lavish Christmas Eve meal. In Bulgaria, Christmas Eve ( Badni Vecher) is associated with more activity than Christmas Day itself. Fish. But I digress. If you really want to understand our traditions we will need to start with the very very beginning. Vegan food. 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. It is the time when the whole family gather together, ancient customs and traditions come into play and Christmas spirit is felt everywhere. 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. Some preparation goes into the koledari’s performances, which begin at midnight on Christmas Eve. 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. Back to my interview. Christmas Eve – 25 of December In Bulgaria is celebrated with a meal consisting of an odd number of dishes which follows the forty-day Advent fast. 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. The Bulgarian Orthodox church recommends 13 different meals for Christmas Eve, all vegetarian, and the odd number represent luck. The water this evening must be sweet too. On this day the food is only vegan, so no dairy products and meat. Tikvenik (pastry with grated pumpkin) 11. Another special aspect of the the Bulgarian Christmas Eve meal is the round loaf of bread, into which a coin is baked. @2021 UndiscoveredBulgaria – All Rights Reserved. The Bulgarians are very superstitious that’s why they will never seat without... 2. Walnuts 8. Did we get your attention? Christmas Eve is actually more important than Christmas itself in Bulgaria, and we have lots of rituals, the purpose of which many have forgotten. The folkloric ritual involves … Christmas Eve is as important as Christmas day during which an extravagant vegan meal is prepared for the entire family. Because of this, a traditional Bulgarian Christmas Eve dinner would only include food that’s free of meat produce, practically all vegan. Bulgarian Legend also has it that Mary was in labor from Dec. 20th until the birth of Christ. Bean soup, sauerkraut leafs filled with rice and stuffed dry peppers with potatoes are only 3 of the main dishes. 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. 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. The Bulgarian Christmas Eve consists of a meal with an odd number of vegetarian dishes culminating the end of the 40-day Advent fast. By tradition, the meal at Christmas Eve has to contain at least 7 dishes and the number of the dishes has to be odd. The biggest honour of splitting the round loaf is always given to the oldest man in the house. To cook with beans are very popular among many Bulgarian family’s. 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. 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. Fasting is a tradition from the Orthodox Church, and the most religious people do it for 40 days before Christmas. We boil a variety of dried fruits, put sugar or honey in it and we call it “oshav” (ошав). Christmas Eve called "Badni Vecher" is a very important day for Bulgarians. Why do we put garlic, honey, walnuts, and wheat on the table? Carnival against the evil spirits: Kukeri. This custom says that the person who finds the coin will be rewarded with good fortune. They might sound a bit weird but in the end, they will all make perfect sense to you. The oldest woman in the house will hide in the bread small items wrapped in tinfoil before she bakes it. Peppers (dry red peppers filled with potatoes or beans)  6. Clearly, 7 are the days of the week, the pregnancy lasts for 9 months and 12 are the months of the year. One will be with sauerkraut (called “zelnik”) and the other one will be with grated pumpkin and brown sugar (called “tikvenik”). To my surprise, Kristian replied that Easter is a much bigger holiday in Bulgaria than Christmas but he emphasized "that there are many cool Christmas Eve traditions." … These nuts are cracked to predict success or failure for the coming year. Bulgarian Christmas Eve Vegetarian Stuffed Green Bell Peppers Traditional Holiday Classic Cookbooks Main Dishes Side Dishes by Chef Sofia @ bulgariancooking.com December 23, 2016 December 23, 2016 Leave a Comment on Bulgarian Christmas Eve Vegetarian Stuffed Green Bell Peppers Traditional Holiday Classic One 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. Christmas Celebrations in Bulgaria Talking about Christmas customs and traditions, Bulgaria religiously follows the Eastern Orthodox Church. Let’s start our journey through Bulgaria together and discover it all! Dec. 20th is the Day of St. Ignat, or Ignazhden, in Bulgaria. Traditionally each member of the family cracks a walnut to determine their fate for the next year. Another belief that is unique to Bulgarian culture is that of the legend of the Virgin Mary. According to the biblical prophecy, on Christmas Eve the labor pains of the Virgin Mary, which began on Ignazhden (20 December), ended. As with other Bulgarian traditions, this one has a motivation behind it: this custom is said to protect against evil spirits. Koledari, or Christmas carolers, go from house to house through villages. 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. Fresh fruits 7. Bending down he shows respect to the Earth, prays for a fertile and full harvest. The dishes vary from family to family. It is commonly believed in Bulgaria that Mary gave birth to Christ on Christmas Eve, but announced the birth on Christmas day. These groups of carolers are typically made up of young men dressed in traditional costumes, which vary from region to region. 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, Celebrate Christmas in Bulgaria: What You Need to Know, 13 Magical Photos That Will Make You Want to Visit Sofia in the Winter, 10 Bulgarian food classics You Need On Your ‘Must Eat’ Bucket List, The Rose Valley – Rosa Damascena and Bulgaria’s Rose Valley, 20 amazing picture from International Festival of Masquerade Games “Surva”, 8 Amazing Coming of Age Traditions From Bulgaria, To Starosel from Plovdiv – a one-day trip in ancient history, 8 winter spots in Bulgaria to visit even if you don’t ski, 20 curious facts about Bulgaria you probably don’t know. In … It is believed that Mary was in labor from December 20th until she gave birth on Christmas Eve, but that she waited until Christmas morning to announce his birth. 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). Walnuts are traditionally found on the table and cracked to determine success or failure in the coming year. Walnuts are a necessary component to the Bulgarian Christmas meal. Wheat 12. The celebration of Christmas Eve in Bulgaria is ruled by traditions that are distinctly different from those Americans know. Christmas (Koleda or Rozhdestvo Hristovo) in Bulgaria is one of the most cherished holidays in the year. Another special aspect of the  Bulgarian Christmas Eve meal is a round loaf of bread that has a coin baked inside. Koledari, or Christmas carolers, go from house to house throughout Bulgarian villages on Christmas, starting at midnight on Christmas Eve. According to Bulgarian tradition, the Christmas celebrations start on December 24th, called “Badni Vecher” (meaning Christmas Eve, or Small Christmas). Carol singers, or as they are called in Bulgarian “koledari”, start visiting around. Ask anyone above the age of 40 and they will dive into an enthusiastic and nostalgic tale of how the winter holidays were the only time in the year when they could eat oranges and bananas. Starting on the 25th, when we believe Jesus Christ was born. Bulgarian Christmas Traditions. Why the number of the dishes are so important and what meaning stands behind each one? 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. It is believed to protect the house from evil, bad thoughts and against cold, of course. 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. Zelnik (pastry with sauerkraut) 10. Walnuts is a must on the Bulgarian Christmas table! Although, Сарми (Sarmi) is a popular dish around Christmas as well. Some people will still have a traditional Yule Log (normally from an oak, elm or pear tree) known as a 'badnik' or 'budnik' which is brought into the house on Christmas Eve. They believe the seeds are symbol of the fertility, health and that they will help the maidens to get pregnant. We believe that the lost members of the family will come during the night and when they see all the food left for them, they will know they’ve not been forgotten. Bulgarian Christmas festivities of the past 30 years are nothing like the celebrations before 1989. The traditions of koledari and survakari date back centuries ago and are an … Christmas traditions in Bulgaria. The religious Bulgarians do not eat any animal products or meat during that time. Oshav (sweet water) 3.Bean soup 4. Women choose mainly food that swells like beans, rice, wheat etc. Kukeri. Traditions of a Not-Quite-Silent Night. This vegetarian meal includes grains, vegetables, fruits, and nuts. Bulgarians celebrate Christmas on December 25th. 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. While carnivals are widespread around the world before Lent, … Otherwise all family have their own traditions and recipes on what they consider must be on the table. Baklava (the sweet dessert). IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A PRIVATE TOUR AND WANT TO DISCOVER MORE THAN THE TOURIST SIGHTS, THAN YOUR GUIDES ARE WAITING FOR YOU…. Not all Orthodox Christians eat fish and eggs during fasting times, so not all families serve … As Christmas Eve comes to an end and the clock strikes 00:00, an old Bulgarian tradition takes place. Or rather, I’m getting ahead, because one of the most interesting things about Bulgarian Christmas is the night before – Christmas Eve. It is characterized by rich traditions and intricate rituals. You can also fill them with minced meat but then it won´t fit in for the vegetarian Christmas food. Bulgarian Christmas - Bulgarian Traditions - Invest Bulgaria.com. The Bulgarians are very superstitious that’s why they will never seat without having garlic on their table. 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. It includes grains; vegetables, such as stuffed peppers; fruits; and nuts. Only young boys are allowed to participate in the caroling. Walnuts is a must on the Bulgarian Christmas table! These groups of carolers are typically made up of young men dressed in traditional costumes which vary from region to region. The person who finds the coin will be rewarded with good fortune. If the walnut is full, then the person will be healthy, but if it’s empty or rotten – you probably can guess the answer. 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. So now that you know a little more about a typical Bulgarian Christmas, we hope you have an memorable and jolly Christmas yourself. 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. eat only vegetarian food. 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 night before — Christmas Eve (Badni vecher), is also very important. December would be a period of fasting and the 24th is the last day of it. The Christmas time in Bulgaria is full of old traditions. 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. To cook with beans are very popular among many Bulgarian family’s. Walnuts, in particular, are found on the Bulgarian Christmas Eve table. Traditionally each member of the family cracks a walnut to determine their fate for the next year. Women choose mainly food that swells like beans, rice, wheat etc. The koledari are rewarded with food in return for their services. 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