Cristmas in Bulgaria

Christmas Tree Decoration Exchange Project

Christmas in Bulgaria is a joyful holyday. It is the time when most ancient customs and traditions come into play.

CRISTMAS

II OU “Petko R. Slaveykov”

TRADITIONS IN BULGARIA

This brochure was created by students and teachers of II OU “Petko R. Slaveykov”, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria

Who we are?

Bulgaria is a small country located in Southeastern Europe. It is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, and the Black Sea to the east. Bulgaria is Europe's 14th-largest country – well, not one of the biggest and richest one but a country with roots in ancient ages, rich culture and heroic history.

Bulgaria's population of 7.36 million people is predominantly urbanised and mainly concentrated in the administrative centres of its 28 provinces. Most commercial and cultural activities are centered on the capital and largest city, Sofia.

The town where we live – Stara Zagora is the sixth-biggest town in the country.

Stara Zagora is an administrative and cultural centre of particular significance for Bulgaria as it is an ancient Thracian, subsequently Greek, Roman and Byzantine metropolis. The oldest Neolithic remains were found in Stara Zagora. Stara Zagora is one of the oldest cities in Europe.

Our school – II “Petko R. Slaveykov”is considered as one of the oldest and best schools in the town. There are over 750 students in it – from kindergarten to the seventh grade.

1

Our Christmas Traditions Christmas in Bulgaria is actually a lot of holidays!

The first of them is called “Ignazhden” after the Holy Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-bearer, Bishop of Antioch. So if you know someone, whose name is Ignatius, don’t forget to call on him on 20th December. According to the Bulgarian tradition, he should give you a hearty welcome.

It is a very important day, because the magic of Christmas get activated. And it is so strong, that the prosperity of your home during the entire New Year depends on who will cross your doorstep first. If he is a good man, hard-worker, generous, and magnanimous, the New Year would bring a lot of health, happiness and luck for you and your family. So my advice is you to invite such a man in advance.

If you’re a woman, that day you should sweep the chimneys - not to be fleas during the spring and summer. Than throw chestnuts in the cattle sheds - sheep to breed. You also have some more housework, but let’s stop here. The point is that the magic of the day is so strong, that everything done has a symbolic meaning. Sweeping the floor equals to a very strong conjuration. Have you ever wanted to be a witch?

If you’re a man, you should slaughter the pig for the Christmas table.

(Or to go to the nearest butcher’s shop ) Another very important mission for you: to choose the leader of the group of “koledari” among your friends.

This group has a key role on the Christmas day.

Good news – a very rich dinner. Bad news – on the table that evening should be only lenten dishes and wine.

Why? According to the Orthodox Christian Church the good Christian should eat no meat, no cheese, no milk and eggs for a period of 40 days before Christmas. That evening the oldest woman gives each one of the family special circle bread, which has to be kept until 1st January. Why? The circle bread symbolizes the circle of life.

It is a talisman, and in it is concentrated a lot of magic power.

2

Christmas Eve is a holiday important as much, as Christmas day!

Here you are the recipe for traditional Bulgarian Christmas Eve. You need:  the whole family – the old grandparents and little babies in one house (isn’t it funny?);  a fireplace;  some straw;  a special ritual bread;  seven, nine or twelve tasty lenten dishes and red wine;  whole walnuts and garlic.

How the Christmas Eve goes?

The oldest man of the family brings a “budnik” (in Bulgarian the Christmas Eve is called “Budni vecher”) – a thick and long piece of wood. It should be on fire all the night and not to go out. It is believed that as many sparkles there are in the fire, as wealth and prosperity there will be at the house next year.

You should scatter the straw about the floor and to set the table there.

(May be it isn't comfortable enought, but was it comfortable to Baby Christ in that crib, where he was ling?)

The oldest man or woman censes the table with frankincense to dispel the evil spirits.

3

The bread has a cental role in the ritual. It even has a name, but probably you won't adress it, so it's not so important. It must be kneaded by the young women in the family in a special way. Then they put a silver coin in it. The bread must be round and decorated in a special way. The first piece of the bread is dedicated to the house, the second – to St. Marry. Now you should pray the coin to be in your piece of bread, because in that case you will be blessed with happiness for the next year! (Wish you luck!) The girls can put a bit of the bread under their pillow, and they will dream the one, who will marry them.

The number of the dishes is sacral. Everyone should taste each of them to have good fortune during the next year.

Attention! Nobody should stand up during the dinner! If you do this… no one can tell you what will happen, because it haven’t been done till now.

The walnuts are on the table to be cracked after the dinner. Another fortune-telling – if your walnut is good, you will be healthy, but if it is not – it is better to check up your health insurance. And you should put in your pocket a piece of garlic. The Christmas Eve is the first of the 12 “dirty days”. This is the most dangerous time of the year – around the earth wander around all kinds of evil creatures: ghouls, vampires, bogles, goblins, and especially the Bulgarian “karakondzhuli”.

At least you should do one more think – NOT to clear the table! May be your death grandparents will drop in to have dinner, too.

4

Guests early in the Christmas morning Probably the “koledari” (Koleda in Bulgarian means Christmas) will come round to see you. They are a group of young unmarried men, who start going about from house to house at midnight till dawn. Their leader is a married man, chosen on 20th December (Ignazhden). There is no way not to hear them, because a boy (or few boys) run before them and caterwaul to announce for them.

Please, don’t be scared! These guests bring good news! "God was born!", they will announce. And not only tell, but also sing. They have a blessing song for everyone in the family – from the master to the little baby. They wish health and luck, a rich crop and numberless livestock.

You should give them presents for their benedictions. They can be special little round breads, food and

money. But! If they don’t like their presents, they can walk off with your gate!

Now you can go and dance with everybody else “horo” – a Bulgarian dance that people join hands. It symbolizes the live.

At the evening you can eat the slaughtered on Ignazhden pig – at the end the advent has ended.

5

In the Christmas night the sky will be open for a moment and you can see the angels, but only if you’re a righteous man. At that moment you can wish something and it will come true. Look up at the ski!

After midnight we great each other with “Marry Cristmas!” In Bulgarian it is said “Vesela Koleda!

Interesting facts:  For the first time a Christmas tree was decorated at the Bulgarian court in 1879.  Christmas trees have been sold in the streets of the towns since 20s of the 20th century.  Initially the Christmas trees in Bulgaria were decorated with popcorn, dried fruits and other home-made decoration.

6