Bulgaria is a nation that loves holidays and knows how to spend it with comfort, joy and maximum pleasure. Holidays here are celebrated noisily, crowdedly and, if possible, as often as possible. In contrast to the traditions of the former Soviet Union, name days are considered a big holiday here (name den in Bulgarian), they are celebrated with family or friends, some lucky ones - several times a year.
JANUARY
January 1 in Bulgaria, like almost everywhere else in the world, they celebrate the New Year (Nova Godina in Bulgarian). Unlike the tradition of the more eastern lands of modern Russia, this holiday is neither the main nor the symbolic. Most often, Bulgarians spend the night from December 31st to January 1st in celebrations in the squares, dancing or, more correctly in Bulgarian, “playing” horo and warming up with rakia and wine, which they happily share with both friends and strangers.
January 6 they celebrate Epiphany (Epiphany in the Bulgarian tradition), one of the most beloved holidays in the country of roses and wine. On this day, the name days of Jordan, Jordanka, Bogdan and Bogdanka are celebrated - because Jesus was baptized in the waters of the Jordan River.
FEBRUARY
February 14 in Bulgaria they celebrate not the commercialized pro-Western Valentine's Day, but the ancient holiday “Trifon Zarezan”. The holiday begins its history more than a thousand years ago, when ancient Thracian tribes lived on the lands of modern Bulgaria, and of all the gods they gave their preference to Dionysus, the god of wine and vines. The “Prabbalgars” who later settled in these lands adopted Thracian customs, and with them the pagan holiday.
And to this day, on February 14th, Bulgarian families gather to prune vines - in some families, from one to two dozen acres to an acre are allocated for them, in others - only the yard in front of a private house, which, if planted or, more precisely, entwined with vines , will be called "osmA". After the necessary gardening rituals, tired of working in the bitter cold (in winter in Bulgaria it can be +15), families relax at the table, tasting the last year's harvest, after which, in the company of several bottles of the best wine, they can go to their neighbors, comparing harvests and reaping well-deserved laurels of the Trifon Zarezan holiday last year.
MARCH
March 1 in Bulgaria they honor Baba Martha . According to legends, she was the sister of the other two humanized months of the year - January and February, who either drank all her wine or committed some big dirty trick, which is why Baba Marta is always unhappy - March weather is often worse than February in these parts and, even If several days are sunny and warm, the weather can turn bad in just a couple of hours, leading to blizzards and storms. According to another legend, Baba Marta, being a woman, is very angry, because she found herself between two male months: February is short, and April is soft.
The holiday of March 1st symbolizes the arrival of spring and a new fruitful year; it carries with it the wish of health and fertility. With wishes of health, Bulgarians give each other “martenitsa” - simple bracelets traditionally woven from white and red woolen threads. Martenitsa, if it is put on your hand, should, according to tradition, remain on your hand until you either see the first stork in the sky or the first flowering fruit tree. In the first case, the martenitsa must be hidden under a lying stone, in the second - hung on a tree.
March 3. Day of the Liberation of Bulgaria from Turkish slavery. The main national holiday, a day that changed the history of a small but proud state that was enslaved for half a millennium (!). Vasil Levski is the main person of the Uprising and this holiday in the 19th century. he secretly traveled to all corners of the country, organizing revolutionary committees and, in modern parlance, engaged in massive crowdfunding of the Uprising. In Bulgarian history, he and his like-minded people are the People's Awakeners (Narodni Buditeli), who raised the country towards independence after such a long sleep.
March 13 (floating date) “Sirni Zagovezni” is celebrated. Forgiveness Sunday, also known in Bulgaria under another name - “Proshka”, precedes the beginning of Lent before Easter. In practice, this is the same Maslenitsa that Russian-speaking countries celebrate. The tradition of burning effigy is maintained in its maximum form - in smaller towns and rural areas they often cut down and build a huge fire from several 10-15 meter high pines or spruce trees (coniferous trees are used, because they burn better due to the resin) , musical accompaniment of the holiday is organized by local groups of folk musicians; The authentic sound of Bulgarian national musical instruments (“gaida” - bagpipes, “tpan” - big drum) creates an indescribable feeling of animalistic closeness to nature. The integrity of this ritual will immerse you completely in the pagan origins of this holiday, which, whether you like it or not, will resonate within you, make you move and enjoy the sight of a huge flame dancing to the sound of a drum.
APRIL
April 8, 2018 and April 29, 2019 (floating date). Velikden (Easter) is the main and most important holiday of Orthodox Christians. Velikden back in the 4th century. It was decided to celebrate on the first Sunday of the full moon after the spring equinox and, as a result, the Bright Holiday is celebrated on different days. Unlike our way of life, in Bulgaria Easter is a national holiday, which usually coincides with a short spring break in schools and a long official weekend. Traditionally, he copes with his family. In addition to colored eggs, the main dishes are kozunak (sweet pastry, similar to Easter cakes), baked lamb and/or rabbit (wild hare in areas rich in forests with a developed hunting tradition).
MAY
May 1. Like everywhere else in the world, Labor Day is celebrated, an official non-working day. Many entertainment events, competitions, and sports and leisure master classes are held in squares and parks.
May 6. Gergjovden (St. George's Day or St. George's Day). Day of Bravery and the Army of Bulgaria, as well as the name days of George, Gali, Galina, Gergana, Ginka, Ganka and Gancho. The popular consciousness associates the holiday with agricultural and livestock work, because the name “George,” which comes from Greek, means “farmer.” This holiday also includes the idea of spring renewal of nature, because by May in Bulgaria all the trees are already covered with leaves, and most of the fruit trees have completely faded. In Bulgaria, like here, St. George is a protector, warrior, and also the patron saint of sheep farmers and their animals. Bulgarians celebrate with their families with their favorite dish - baked lamb.
May 24. Day of Education and Culture in Bulgaria, Day of Slavic Literature. Celebrations are held with performances from folk dance and music schools, readings by favorite Bulgarian poets, and language competitions for children.
SEPTEMBER
September 6. Unification Day of Bulgaria. Historically, it was on this day in 1885 that the Principality of Bulgaria united with Eastern Rumelia (a part of the Bulgarian lands separated by the Berlin Treaty of 1878, which remained in the status of an autonomous region of the Ottoman Empire). The unification followed numerous riots in Eastern Rumelia, after which a military coup on September 6 with the support of Prince Alexander I turned the tide and united Bulgaria into one power. Folk festivities with musical accompaniment of orchestras are traditional, incl. military, dancing, concerts in squares.
September 22. Independence Day of Bulgaria. The Bulgarian nation celebrates the declaration of the sovereignty of its native state. Until September 22, 1908, the Bulgarian Principality was still a vassal of the Ottoman Empire and in making diplomatic and foreign policy decisions of any nature was forced to turn to the lord, the Turkish Sultan.
DECEMBER
December 6. Nikulden (or St. Nicholas the Wonderworker Day). Holiday of fishermen and sailors. Sailors in Bulgaria are an exceptionally numerous profession, since the entire eastern border of the state lies in the Black Sea and maritime trade is one of the main pillars of the country’s economy, along with tourism. Sailors, as a rule, receive a good salary and a chance to see the world; the Varna and Burgas Maritime Institutes are considered elite educational institutions with great competition. The holiday is celebrated, of course, with a variety of fish dishes, mackerel (mackerel in Bulgarian) is especially popular, in river areas - trout (pastarva / pastYrva in Bulgarian) and carp (sharan in Bulgarian). After the meal, it is customary to bury the bones in the garden for abundant harvest next year.
December 8. Student's day. Classmates or even entire courses of students go together to resort towns for one day or, if the dates coincide, a long weekend, to enjoy the carefree student life and get really drunk. Classic.
December 24. Weekday evening (Christmas Eve). Another name is “Malka Koleda” (Little Christmas) - an exclusively family holiday, entirely dedicated to preparing for Christmas.
December 25. Koledna (Christmas), Bozhik or Bozhich in Bulgarian begins the celebration of the Nativity of Christ just after midnight. From house to house, carolers begin their march, and everyone, young and old, is waiting for them. Usually these are young, unmarried young men and boys from 12 to 20 years old, sometimes older. They are dressed in national costumes, in their hands they carry “shareni toyagi” - sticks, cut into the likeness of staves, decorated with evergreens and a tied donut (gevrek in Bulgarian). Toyagi play an important role in ritual dances.