The most popular holidays in Bulgaria

Bulgarians are original, they love and honor the traditions of their people. Despite the long period of Ottoman domination, they retained their identity, which is especially evident in the celebration of holidays. These are bright, cheerful, colorful events where you can see mummers, dance on coals, swim in the dew, and taste treats. Holidays reflect the present and past of the country, ancient and modern folk customs. A trip to any of these events gives an unforgettable experience.

Traditions of the peoples of Bulgaria

To demonstrate hospitality, Bulgarians greet guests with bread and salt. This ritual is preserved in many modern hotels. To show reciprocal courtesy, you need to break off a piece from the loaf, eat it and drink it with red wine.

On holidays, Bulgarians wear national costumes. Kazanlak women's attire includes a deep-cut woolen sundress (sukman), a white shirt, rawhide shoes, and a plain silk scarf.

The composition of the men's suit includes trousers, a brightly embroidered wide sash, an embroidered plain shirt, and a bright vest. A men's suit can be sewn in light or dark colors, they are called belodreshna and chernodreshna, respectively.

There are no spontaneous elements in the national Bulgarian costumes. Each stroke has an explanation and a symbolic meaning.

Many interesting customs in Bulgaria are connected with water. Here it is customary to pour water under the feet of a person who sets off on a long journey or starts an important business. The essence of the ceremony is the wish that everything flowed like water.

Certain rituals are necessarily performed at the conclusion of marriage, the birth of a child, the burial of the dead.

Bulgarians love fun and holidays. In each region of the country, rituals and style of celebration have individual features, but common roots.

Popular Holidays

Holidays in Bulgaria are usually divided into official ones, which are celebrated today, and those rooted in the pagan past.

New Year and other official holidays

Preparations for the New Year begin in November. Christmas trees are decorated on the streets and squares, lanterns and garlands are hung, and festive layouts are made in stores. It is customary to celebrate the New Year with the family. The national feature of the celebration is the performance of the ancient Surva ritual - the expulsion of evil spirits with fire and masks. To do this, they make dogwood sticks, survachki, decorate them with nuts, fruits, coins. Survachki, in order of seniority, lightly tap on the back of family members. The ritual means attracting health, well-being, good luck.

An integral attribute of the Bulgarian New Year is a plentiful feast with a layered cheese pie - a banitsa.

The holiday calendar also marks the Day of the country's liberation from the Ottoman yoke (March 3), Easter, International Labor Day, Bulgarian Army Day, Independence Day, Christmas. These are weekends that indigenous people spend with their families, use for recreation, tourist trips.

Holidays associated with ancient customs and traditions are celebrated more colorfully. The most famous:

• Baba Marta or the holiday of the arrival of spring. City parks and streets are being decorated. The main symbol of the event is martenitsa made of twisted white and red threads, protecting from the evil eye and diseases. Martenitz is made in the form of dolls, panels, bracelets and these souvenirs are exchanged with each other;
• Todorovden or Horse Easter. It is believed that the performance of special ceremonies on February 20 preserves the health of horses and protects the newlyweds from troubles. It is customary to bake a loaf in the form of a horseshoe or a horse's head, feed animals with it, arrange races and dance in the squares;
• Kukeri, celebrated in winter. Unmarried men are allowed to take part in the celebration. They dress up in frightening costumes and perform ritual dances to exorcise evil spirits. The custom survived only in the countryside;
• the feast of Saints Constantine and Helena, during which the rite of nistinari is performed, dancing on burning coals. It is noteworthy that the dancers are not injured when they come into contact with hot coals. It is said that this is due to the special genetics of the dancers. The tradition of nistinari has been preserved at present only in a few villages.

On the first Saturday of June, the Rose Festival is celebrated in Bulgaria. This noble flower is considered sacred here. The festival has been held since 1903, in Kazanlak in even years, in Karlovo in odd years. An obligatory attribute of the celebration is the collection of rose petals, “rosober”. Cosmetics based on rose oil are sold everywhere, master classes, carnival processions with dances and chants are arranged.

Angel's day

Name day, or name day in Bulgaria is more important than birthday. Each name in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church has its own saint, the day of this saint is the name day for the owner of the same name. They come to name days without an invitation, give flowers, postcards, and the birthday man must treat everyone.

Gifts are limited. It is not customary to give knives, empty bags or wallets, glasses, watches on name days.

All Bulgarian holidays are celebrated with soul, bright and tasty. Each such event is worth visiting.