Are you celebrating Christmas in Bulgaria? We’ve gathered the complete guide for Bulgarian Christmas traditions to help you out – including how they celebrate, gifting etiquette, and more.
To help you explore their Christmas traditions, this article is organized into:
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Unique Christmas Traditions in Bulgaria
- Advent Fasting: The Christmas celebrations in Bulgaria begin with a 40-day Advent fast starting on November 15. During this period, many Bulgarians abstain from meat and dairy products, focusing instead on vegan dishes to prepare spiritually for the holiday.
- Badni Vecher: Christmas Eve, known as Badni Vecher, is a significant occasion marked by several unique traditions:
- Vegan Feast: Families gather for a dinner that traditionally includes an odd number of dishes (typically 7, 9, or 11).
- Pita Bread: A special round loaf of bread called pita is baked with a coin inside. Finding the coin is believed to bring good luck for the coming year. The bread is shared among family members, usually cut by the eldest.
- Setting the Table: after the Christmas Eve meal, the table is left set overnight to honor visiting ancestors. A piece of pitka bread is saved as a blessing for the household, symbolizing protection and good fortune, with icons of saints sometimes placed nearby to blend family and faith in the holiday.
- Caroling (Koleduvane): After midnight on Christmas Eve, young men participate in a tradition called Koleduvane, where they dress in traditional attire and visit homes to sing carols. The main task of carolers is to drive away the evil spirits that are believed to be present on December 25 and 12 days after. That’s why the carolers sing at the top of their lungs, clap their gags and their cypresses – to drive away the evil forces. The caroling is done only by men and boys who choose their leader in advance, also called the king or “staninik”.
How to Say “Merry Christmas” in Bulgarian?
Extend Christmas wishes in Bulgarian with the phrase, “Весела Коледа!”
Do you need more variety of Christmas wishes? Here is our full article on Christmas Wishes in Bulgarian.
Bulgarian Christmas Gifting Etiquette
When participating in Christmas gifting in Bulgaria, understanding the local etiquette can enhance the experience and ensure that your gifts are well-received. Here are some essential do’s and don’ts to consider:
Do’s in Gifting
- Focus on Thoughtfulness: Gifts should be meaningful rather than expensive. The sentiment behind the gift is more important than its monetary value.
- Bring Flowers and Spirits: If invited to a Bulgarian home for Christmas dinner, it’s customary to bring flowers for the hostess and a bottle of good spirits (like rakija) for the host. Ensure that the flowers are in odd numbers, as even numbers are reserved for funerals.
- Give Odd Numbers of Gifts: When gifting to children or newborns, present an odd number of gifts. This tradition is believed to bring good luck.
- Open Gifts Immediately: In Bulgaria, gifts are typically opened as soon as they are received. This practice reflects the excitement and appreciation of the moment.
Don’ts in Gifting
- Avoid Very Expensive Gifts: Extravagant gifts can make the recipient feel uncomfortable or obligated to reciprocate.
- Don’t Gift Sharp Objects: Items like knives or scissors are seen as symbols of severing the relationship and should be avoided.
- Be Cautious with Flower Choices: Avoid gifting chrysanthemums, lilies, or gladiolas, as these flowers are associated with funerals. Stick to other types of flowers that convey joy and celebration.
- Avoid Gifts with Negative Connotations: Black or dark-colored gifts are sometimes considered unlucky and should be avoided.
Traditional Bulgarian Christmas Food and Drink
Christmas Food
On Christmas Eve, the meal is strictly vegetarian, consisting of an odd number of dishes (usually 7, 9, or 11) to symbolize abundance. Some key dishes include:
- Sarmi: Stuffed grape or cabbage leaves filled with rice and various vegetables. These are a staple during the holiday season.
- Stuffed Peppers: Typically filled with rice, beans, or mushrooms, these are common on the Christmas Eve table.
- Ochaf: A dish made from boiled wheat mixed with dried fruits and nuts, symbolizing fertility and abundance.
- Fruits and Nuts: These are often included as part of the meal to represent health and prosperity.
On Christmas Day, the feast shifts to include meat dishes as families break their fast.
- To mark the end of veggy fast, a rich Christmas Pitka (bread) is made, in which eggs, milk, yeast, butter are now allowed. The ritual bread should be round like the sun, decorated with crosses and with symbols that suggest the four directions of the world.
- The most frequent guests on the Christmas table were sauerkraut, pumpkin, wheat, beans, pickles and dried vegetables.
- Traditionally, favorite fortune Banitsa (a pie made of whisked eggs, plain yogurt, and pieces of white brined cheese between filo pastry) on the table.
- In the traditional Bulgarian meal, as many lucky paper cards are placed as there are people at the table. There should be a different piece of luck in each piece of pie. Legend has it that the luck that is in the piece we choose will be our luck in the new year.
- The most common lucks are health, luck, love and money. There are also different variations such as a new house, a new car, a new job, etc.
- Mandatory luck in the banitsa is the coin, worth one or two leva, which is placed in only one of the pieces. It is believed that whoever chooses this piece will be the richest in the coming year.
Christmas Drink
After the Christmas Eve feast, families often enjoy a homemade rakiya toast to welcome Christmas and the new year. This traditional Bulgarian brandy, made from grapes or plums, is enjoyed slowly in the company of loved ones.
Wish-Granting “Koledari” Wreaths
The young carolers (Koledari) who go door-to-door often carry decorative wreaths made from cornel branches. These wreaths, called “koledarka,” are given to the households as symbols of health and prosperity. People keep these wreaths throughout the year to attract good fortune.
Fortune-Telling Through Walnuts
After the Christmas Eve meal, family members crack open walnuts as a form of fortune-telling. If the walnut inside is whole and healthy, it is seen as a sign of good luck and health for the year ahead. Cracked or spoiled walnuts, however, are believed to foretell challenges.
Incense Rituals
In Bulgaria, families often use incense on Christmas Eve to bless their homes. They burn incense, moving from room to room while saying prayers to drive away any negative energy and protect the household from harm.
Conclusion
Celebrating Christmas in Bulgaria goes beyond food and gifts. It’s a time to honor love, cherish family, and embrace timeless traditions. Christmas is imbued with cultural richness and meaningful celebrations. Have a happy holiday!
Sophie is an etiquette coach who has the rare ability to make the intricacies of etiquette approachable and fun. She travels around the world coaching families, individuals, corporates and independent schools. Sophie has honed her craft without losing her easy-going charm.