Christmas in BulgariaChristmas in Bulgaria

Christmas is a Christmas is a specialspecial

holiday in Bulgaria.holiday in Bulgaria.

It is a continuation ofIt is a continuation of

the Christmas Evethe Christmas Eve

which is which is on 24th of on 24th of DecemberDecember..

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

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

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

The walnuts are alsoThe walnuts are also important part of the important part of the

dinner.dinner. They are always on theThey are always on the table on this holiday.table on this holiday. Everybody takes one Everybody takes one

andand cracks it.cracks it. If it is good and If it is good and

deliciousdelicious tthehe next year will be next year will be

goodgood forfor you.you.

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

SStuffed peppers tuffed peppers

SStuffed cabbage (rice which is in tuffed cabbage (rice which is in cabbage or vain leaves)cabbage or vain leaves)

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

OshavOshav

Christmas Eve in BulgariaChristmas Eve in Bulgaria

KoledarcheKoledarche

According to the tradition at midnight on According to the tradition at midnight on Christmas Eve young boys aged 8 to 12 or Christmas Eve young boys aged 8 to 12 or non-married men form non-married men form a a group of about group of about 10-15 boys.10-15 boys.

KoledariKoledari

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

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