Christmas in Bulgaria

Christmas is a special holiday in Bulgaria. It is a continuation of the Christmas Eve which is on 24th of December.

On Christmas Eve all of the family gather around the table, where you can find meatless meals like: beans, stuffed cabbage (rice which is in cabbage or vain leaves), stuffed peppers, pickles,different kinds of nuts, apples, honey and a special kind of bread in witch a coin is hidden.

The eldest member of the family takes three pieces of bread and sets them-one piece for the Christ, one for Mary and one for the household. He then breaks up the bread and gives a piece to everyone at the table.

The person who finds the coin in his piece is expected to have good fortune in the next year. In some parts of the country, unmarried girls take their first piece of bread from the Christmas Eve meal and place it under their pillows, believing that they will then dream of their intended husband during the night.

The walnuts are also The walnuts are also important part of the dinner. important part of the dinner. They are always on the They are always on the table on this holiday. table on this holiday. Everybody takes one and Everybody takes one and cracks it. cracks it. If it is good and delicious If it is good and delicious the next year will be good the next year will be good for you. for you.

Some say it is to insure that there will be plenty of food in the coming year, whilst others leave the food out for departed family members whose spirits may return.

Stuffed peppers

Stuffed cabbage (rice which is in cabbage or vain leaves)

Pogacha - special kind of bread Pogacha - special kind of bread

Oshav

Christmas Eve in Bulgaria

Koledarche According to the tradition at midnight on Christmas Eve young boys aged 8 to 12 or non-married men form a group of about boys.

Koledari The Кoledari wear traditional holiday clothes –with beautifully decorated caps.

They go round the houses in the village or in the town from midnight till dawn and sing songs.