Traditions in Bulgaria and Annual Calendar of Events

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The national flag of Bulgaria consists of three horizontal stripes: white, green, and red. White symbolizes peace, green symbolizes the emergence of Bulgaria as an agricultural nation, and red symbolizes bravery.

March 1st is probably our most intrinsic holiday because it is unique to Bulgaria. The custom of wearing Martenitsas (red-and-white threads worn as a decoration) is only popular in Bulgaria and it is perhaps the most positive one in all our folklore.

The traditions related to March 1st as well as the martenitsas themselves are associated with optimism and anticipation of warmer weather, fertility and well-being. This tradition is based upon the founding of Bulgaria in 681 AD and there are many more than one folk-legend about the origin of this celecrated day.

Easter in Bulgaria is a strongly celebrated holiday. Red, the predominant color of Bulgarian Easter eggs, is a part of pagan mysticism that pervades Bulgarian culture even today.

Red Easter eggs are baked into an Easter loaf, may be blessed at the church, or may be cracked against each other to see who will be the most successful, healthy, or happy during the following year.

Christmas Eve in Bulgaria is celebrated with traditional foods after the Advent fast. Walnuts are a necessary component to the Bulgarian Christmas meal. Each member of the family cracks one in order to determine their fate for the next year. If the walnut is a good one, it is said that the year will be successful. Bad luck is predicted for the person who cracks a bad walnut.

Another Bulgarian Christmas Eve dinner tradition involves hiding a coin in the loaf of Christmas bread. The person who finds the coin can also expect good luck in the year to follow.

Bulgaria is largely a Christian country. On their 'Name Day' the person is to light a candle in the local church. These special 'Name Days' ("immen den" in Bulgarian) are celebrated with a family meal. It is appropriate that a religious icon commemorating the saint after whom a Christian is named is given as a gift on such occasions.

Like any other new year festival around the world Bulgarian new year is also celebrated with great pomp and grandeur. The day has great historical importance attached to it.

The new year's eve in Bulgaria is celebrated as St. Basil's Day or better known as 'survaki'. During this time new year wishes in Bulgaria are exchanged between the young and old. The people celebrate the new year by wearing new clothes.

St George's Day in Bulgaria (6 May) is an agricultural celebration heralding the end of spring and beginning of summer. Traditionally the day involved peasants fixing flowers to their doors and throwing plants into local wells for good health.

Nowadays it is customary for Bulgarian households to cook a whole lamb in honour of the saint, as he is the patron saint of shepherds.

This is also the day of the Bulgarian Army, so visitors can expect parades organised in the capital, Sofia, to present the best of the army's equipment and manpower.

Date	Month	Calendar 2011 - Celebrations and Events
1	January	New Years Day St. Vasilius’ Day. Survakari – According to an ancient tradition children visit the houses, carrying decorated cornel tree sticks (a symbol of health) and “beating” the adults’ backs, they wish health and fertility to the families.
5	January	The Day of the Cross. During the church service a great water blessing is done. After that the priest visits the houses and sprinkles the homes with the blessed water. The people kiss the cross carried by the priest and afterwards the blessing is done give where they money to the cross.
6	January	Jordan’s Day - Service at the church. The priest throws on the cross in a fountain in the village centre. Boys jump into the water to catch the cross. Those who catch the cross visit the houses; the people kiss the cross and give money to the boys.
7	January	St. Ivan’s Day (St. John’s Day) – after the church service – a public prayer and a blessed table at “St. John the Baptist” chapel.
18	January	Winter St. Athanasius’ Day – after the church service – a public prayer and a blessed table at “St. Athanasius” chapel.
21	January	Grandmother’s day
10	February	St. Haralampi – the women carry round loaves and honey to the church. St. Haralampi is respected as a healer.
11	February	St. Vlasi – he is respected as an animal healer. People carry salt to be blessed in the church. This salt they keep all the year and give a little of it to their animals when they are ill.
1	March	Grandmother March (Baba Marta) – on this day all Bulgarians decorate their clothes or put on their wrists “martenitsi” (beautiful figures, “bracelets” or “medallions” made with white and red yarn).
3	March	Liberation Day of Bulgaria
6	March	Beginning of Lent "Pustovete” – According to an ancient Bulgarian tradition bonfires are lit and a night-time carnival with masks and amusement is held on the square. Young people ask forgiveness each other.
8	March	The March 8’s celebration - Women's Day
12	March	St. Todor’s Day (Todorov Den) - horse racing and parade
22	March	First Day of Spring - joy
10	April	Book Day
17	April	Palm Sunday – bunches of willow twigs and crane’s bill, made by women and children on the previous day, are blessed in the church and are given out to the people, who take them to their homes and keep them during the year.
21	April	Holy Thursday – in every home eggs are dyed and Easter cakes are baked.
22	April	Great and Holy Friday – after the morning church serve till the evening all the people come to the church, carrying flowers to Jesus Christ and creep in under shroud of Christ. Some people don’t eat and bring anything the whole day. After the evening church serve the priest gives them holy water to drink. Almost all the inhabitants of the village attend the evening church serve.
23	April	Holy Saturday – the Easter serve begins at 11.30 p. m., during which again almost all the village inhabitants are present. At 12.00 p. m. the priest gets out of the altar with the blessed fire, from which everyone takes and goes home to light its icon-lamp and after that the people go to the graveyard to light the grave-lamps of their relatives. In the region Momchilovtsi is the village which is characterized with the strongest respect to the dead. At midnight the church bells begin ringing festively. The church serve is exceptionally official and continues till 3.00 on 04.04.
24	April	Easter – In the morning after the children say “Christ resurrected.”, they are given little ritual breads, called “kukli” (dolls). The families gather in their home for official lunch. Eggs, Easter cakes and lamb are traditionally eaten. At lunch in every home the traditional ritual bread “Koshara” is also eaten. It symbolizes the family and it must not be taken out of the house. At Easter the people visit their godfathers and godmothers, bringing Easter eggs and cakes. Easter Exhibition.
26	April	On the third Easter day a procession is held from the church to “Christ Resurrection” (St. Letenia) chapel. The participants in the procession sing Easter chants. Almost all the pupils from the village school participate. After the public prayer there is a blessed table of Easter cakes and eggs around the chapel. In the region there is such a tradition only in Momchilovtsi.
29	April	Bright Friday. Day of the Holy Springs. A service in “Ajazmoto” chapel.
2	May	Summer St. Athanasius’ Day. After the church service – a public prayer and a blessed table at “St. Athanasius” chapel.
6	May	St. George's Day; Day of Ayazmoto Spring - the sacred spring, well-known for its healing properties. All the night before the holiday and on St. George’s Day people are visiting Ajazmoto chapel and are taking water from the holy spring. After the church service – a public prayer and a blessed table at “St. Geotge” chapel. Lamb is eaten traditionally on this day. National holiday - Day of the bravery of the Bulgarian Army.
9	May	Day of Victory, Day of Europe
11	May	St. St. Cyril and Methodius. After the church service – a public prayer and a blessed table at “St. St. Cyril and Methodius” chapel.
21	May	St. St. Constantine and Helen – A Holiday of the village. After the church service , a blessed table at the village church and the celebration lasts until dawn with people singing and dancing.
21 to 24	May	Cultural celebrations of the village
1	June	Children's Day
02	June	Ascension of the Lord - After the church service – a public prayer and a blessed table at “Ascension of the Lord ” chapel. („St. Spas”/”St. Vlasi”).
8	June	After the church service – a public prayer and a blessed table at “St. Theodoros” chapel.
12	June	Pentecost. At the end of the village service the priest throws walnut leaves. Everyone present takes some of the leaves to their homes to keep during the year.
13	June	The Holy Spirit. After the church service – a public prayer and a blessed table at “Holy Spirit” chapel.
24	June	Nativity of John Precursor – Midsummer Day. On this day early in the morning herbs are collected for health.
29	June	The second day of Saints Peter and Paul – a public prayer and a blessed table at “Saints Peter and Paul” chapel.
7	July	After the church service – a public prayer and a blessed table at “St. Nedelja” chapel.
20	July	St. Ileah’s Day (Ilinden) – people gather around the chapel from the previous night. After the liturgy in Ajazmoto chapel a water ritual feast for all present and a blessed table is done at “St Ileah” chapel. The celebration continues with the people and joy to the sounds of a local folk orchestra.
27	July	After the church service – a public prayer and a blessed table at “St. Panteleimonos” chapel.
6	August	Transfiguration of God - After the church service – a public prayer and a blessed table at “Transfiguration of God” chapel.
15	August	The Dormition of God’s Mother – one of the great orthodox holidays. Most of the inhabitants of the village attend the church service. Women with name Maria celebrate their name day.
8	September	The Nativity of the Holy Virgin. A service and a blessed table at “The Nativity of the Holy Virgin” chapel.
14	September	The Elevation of the Holy Cross – second patron day of the church, where the altar cross is taken out for worshiping.
1	October	After the church service – a public prayer and a blessed table at „The Cerement of the Holy Virgin” chapel.
6	October	After the church service – a public prayer and a blessed table at “St. Thomas” chapel.
14	October	St. Petka’s Day. After the church service – a public prayer and a blessed table at “St. Petka” chapel
26	October	St. Dimitrius’ Day. After the church service – a public prayer and a blessed table at “St. Dimitrius” chapel
1	November	Day of People Enlighteners (this is a day to commemorate notable people who are known for their work and beliefs which formed the Bulgarian traditions and way of life e.g. Cyril and Methodius who first formed the Cyrillic alphabet)
8	November	After the church service – a public prayer and a blessed table at “St. Archangel Michael” chapel.
11	November	After the church service – a public prayer and a blessed table at “St. Mina” chapel.
21	November	Day of the Christian family
6	December	St. Nicholas’ Day (Niculden) - fish dishes are served. A public prayer and a blessed table at “St. Nicolas” chapel.
23	December	Christmas Concert
24	December	Christmas Eve. Wassail. (Families gather on the table lean. Christmas trees are decorated. The children receive presents. Boys visit the homes, singing traditional Christmas songs. Usually they are dressed in traditional costumes, carrying sticks that hit the floor when they sing. They wish health and prosperity to the people.)
25	December	Nativity service in “St. st. Constantin and Elena " church. Wassail in the village.