How are Christmas and New Year celebrated in Bulgaria?

The celebration begins on 24 December – Budni vecher (Christmas Eve). An odd number of dishes is placed on the table – 7, 9 or 12. All the food must be lenten, for example made from beans, cabbage, grains, honey, wine and nuts.

At midnight, young men (under 20) in national costume begin caroling, and this must continue until sunrise – it is needed to frighten away evil spirits. The owners of the houses where the koledari come to sing treat the young men generously, giving them round loaves, sweets and money. By tradition, the leftovers of the meal are not cleared from the table, so that the spirits of the ancestors can also have supper on the holiday.

On 25 December the whole family, young and old, gathers at the table for a rich Christmas meal that lasts all day. This is a true family holiday; Koleda is traditionally celebrated only within the family circle, preferably at home. The table must be abundant and no longer lenten – among the most traditional Bulgarian dishes are roast geese and suckling pigs. On this day it is recommended to make your most cherished wishes, which are sure to come true.

New Year, on the other hand, is a time of cheerful parties, receiving guests and visiting others. Hotel rooms for these dates have to be booked in advance. Many people go out to the main city squares, where in the first minutes of the New Year everyone dances the traditional horo together. Pride of place on the New Year’s table must go to a banitsa with baked-in wishes and predictions for the coming year. And on this day children tap their parents and other adults on the back with special sticks called survachki, singing ritual songs so that the year will be rich and happy.

Plans for the holidays

In 2015, 1250000 foreign tourists are expected to come to Bulgaria for the winter holidays. Among them, the most popular destination is the ski resort of Borovets, located near Sofia. Second in popularity is the resort of Bansko, well known beyond the country’s borders.

Bulgarians themselves prefer to celebrate the holidays at balneological resorts with developed spa and wellness offerings. These include the ski resorts already mentioned, as well as Velingrad, Hisarya, Kyustendil, Sandanski, Pomorie and others. During the New Year holidays many companies hold corporate parties here, making the most of the varied entertainment. Many companies rent guest houses and rooms in resort hotels for their employees over New Year, in order to arrange truly cheerful celebrations.

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