Christmas 24 December Christmas Eve is as important as Christmas day in Bulgaria. A special diner, consisting of at least twelve dishes is prepared. All of them are without meat and each of them represents a separate month of the year.

Christmas The dishes consist of beans, different kinds of nuts, dried plums, cakes, and the traditional Banitza. On this day the whole family gathers, eat on straw and get off the table in the same time.

In the past Christmas was celebrated differently. There were boys and non- married young men who were visiting the houses, singing songs for wealth and health for the hosts. They were rewarded with money, food and so on. They were bringing long sticks to put “kravai” which are round breads with holes in them. They were called “Koledaris”.

In the houses the families gathered sitting on the ground or on dry grass and eating meatless food. There were 7 or 12 meals: wine, Rakia, sarmy and so on. There always was a huge round bread where all the cattle, the house and things like that were carved. Next day Bulgarians make Christmas wishes around the fire and eat blood sausage.

New year is the second important winter holiday after Christmas. One of the most important tradition in the New year Eve is to prepare a special rite dinner which is censed against whammys.The table must be rich and there are only meat containing meals.

The eldest member of the family, the householder, breaks the traditional round loaf and gives the pieces to The Virgin Mary, to home and to the rest members. Bulgarians must have pork from the pig which is slaughtered on Christmas at the New Year table. By old traditions the main meal has to be from a bird.

The “banitsa”/ pastry /with wishes inside is prepared for the people at the table plus one. The lucks/ wishes /and dogwood tree branches with blooms are put in it.

The custom “survakane” is the second part of the New year festival. It begins at dawn. “Survakari” are boys from 10 to 12 years old who are carrying a special bag and a “survaknitsa”. “Survakane” is an old pagan custom which continues Christmas blessings.

“Survakari” go from house to house offering New Year greetings and blessings to householders wishing them health, wealth and happiness by slapping them on the back with a richly decorated “survaknitsi”– a bunch of twigs adorned with brightly-colored threads and dried fruit.

"Surva, Surva, Happy new year. A big ear of wheat on a field, A big bunch of grapes on a vineyard, A yellow corn-cob in a forest, A red apple in a garden, A home filled with silk, Be healthy, be wealthy, To another year, to another year to amen.”

Another custom in Bulgaria is “laduvane” (putting the rings into a cauldron). It’s happened on a New Year day. Single girls guess who they married to and they turn to Lada, the Slavic goddess of love and marital life, to guess them what it will be.

Vasilyovden (Vasil’s day) is on 1st January. By tradition meals containing meat attend on the table, banitsa /pastry/ with wishes inside for the house, the health and the wealth as well as wheat, walnuts and dried fruit. Bulgarians guess and slap people on the back with a richly decorated survaknitsa for health at Vasilyovden. They try guessing about future fortunes at the table.

God’s appearance 6th January- the name day of Jordan (Jordan’s day) God’s appearance – Jesus is named after in the Jordan river. According to people’s believes at night on Jordan’s day the “sky opens”. Every wish comes true for everyone who sees that. Because of that some people don’t sleep at that night. On that day in Bulgaria the water is consecrated.

After the water consecrating the priest throws the cross in the river and the men go into the ice water to catch it and to pull it out. The cross must be thrown into the rivers, lakes, the sea – according to the population area. Who reaches the cross the first will be healthy and happy. People believe, if the cross freezes, the year will be healthy and fruit-fullness.