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New Year and Christmas in Bulgaria

In Bulgaria, Christmas Koleda, or more formally  Rozhdestvo Hristovo, ‘Nativity of Jesus’) is celebrated on 25 December and is preceded by Christmas Eve ( Badni vecher). Traditionally, Christmas Eve would be the climax of the Nativity Fast, and only an odd number of simple dishes are prepared on that evening. On that day, a Badnik (which comes from the word ‘future’), namely a log from a young, strong oak tree is brought into the house and placed in the fire. The Badnik is a symbol of people’s hope that the night will bring prosperity to the home in the future.

Among the Bulgarian Christmas traditions is koleduvane. It involves men carollers (коледари/koledari) visiting the neighbouring houses from midnight on Christmas Eve, singing carols to wish health, happiness and prosperity. Another custom is the baking of a traditional round loaf or pita. The pita is broken into pieces by the head of the family, and a piece is given to each family member, a valuable possession, and a piece for God. A coin is hidden inside the pita and whoever gets the coin will have luck, health and prosperity in the coming year.

As in other countries, a Christmas tree is typically set up and the whole house is decorated. The local name of Santa Claus is Djado Koleda (Дядо Коледа or ‘Grandfather Christmas’).

In Bulgaria, New Year is considered to be an important time of the year, even more so than Christmas. To mark this fact, New Year celebrations are more prominent and grander than Christmas celebrations, which are comparatively silent. On New Year's Eve, people crowd into bars and restaurants and friends’ homes to party. At the stroke of midnight, after the President has addressed the nation on television, people welcome in the New Year by lighting fireworks and drinking sparkling wine, and then everyone joins the horo, a traditional ring-dance.

New Year’s Day is also known as Survaki in the traditional calendar, and St Basil’s Day according to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, when Saint Basil the Great is commemorated. On that day, groups of children, who call themselves survakari, visit each house and tap the residents on the back with a branch known as a survachka. The survachka is usually made of a dogwood branch with its twigs bent into circles and decorated with popcorn, dried fruit and peppers, colourful small pieces of cloth and wool. The children wish each resident health, happiness and success for the coming year. In return, they are given sweets and money, and many people tie beautiful ribbons onto each child's survachka.

On the first day of the year, there is also the custom of preparing banitza, a traditional Bulgarian dish which can be roughly described as a cheese pie, with lucky charms. These charms may be coins or small symbolic objects such as pieces of a dogwood twig with a bud, symbolising health or longevity. More recently, people have started writing fortunes on small pieces of paper and wrapping them in tin foil, after which they are put in the New Year’s banitza. Wishes usually include happiness, health or success throughout the year.

Happy New Year!