Bulgarian Holidays

Bulgarian National holidays

3rd march - the Day of the

Liberation of Bulgaria

Bulgaria celebrates a yearly celebration of its liberation from almost 500 years of Ottoman rule

on the 3rd of March under the Treaty of San Stefano. It ended the

Russo-Turkish War in 1877.

It paved the way for the liberation of Bulgaria and once again

establishes itself as a nation and successfully put the country back

on the world map.

This holiday is celebrated every year at the Shipka Pass. There is a memorial to

those who died for the Liberation of Bulgaria during the Battles of Shipka

Pass in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78. The government also holds the usual ceremonial hoisting of the

Bulgarian flag in monuments across the country specifically the Unknown

Soldier Monument in Sofia.

September 6 – Unification day

Unification of Bulgaria is the actual act of unification of the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia in the autumn of 1885

People of Bulgaria celebrate the Day of Unification with great enthusiasm and

honour. Prime Minister of Bulgaria hosts the National Flag in the city of Plovdiv,

where hundreds of people gather to celebrate the re-unification.

September 22 –

Bulgaria Independen

ce dayOn September 22, Bulgaria declared its independence

from the Ottoman Empire and became sovereign state. It is

proclaimed with a manifesto in 1908 in "St. Forty Martyrs" in

Veliko Tarnovo city.

A number of activities have been organized to commemorate the special date. Streets are closed in Sofia because of this. Musicians participate throughout the celebrations.

There are celebratory liturgical masses held in the cathedrals as well. A raising of the Bulgarian

flag follows all of these and then wreaths and flowers are laid on the war memorial.

Bulgarian customs and

traditions

Epiphany (Yordanovden)

We celebrate Epiphany on January 6th. On this day the local priest throws a wooden cross in the river and volunteers jump after it to take

it out. The one, who takes out the cross, will be healthy and happy during the whole year. We believe that if the cross dropped in the river

freezes, that means the year is going to be healthy and fruitfull.

Midwive’s day (Babinden)

On January 21st is one of the biggest folk woman holydays, dedicated to the “grandmothers” who help baby to be born. Before sunrise

mothers and young children go to a fountain and bring fresh water. They put stalks of wild geranium and basil in the cauldron with water.

Then they go to midwife’s house and pass the soup to the “granny” and pour her to wash herself. Afterwards they give their towels to her as a

symbol of gratefulness

Midwive’s day (Babinden)

Petlyovden

In Bulgaria on 2nd of February we celebrate Petlyovden or also known as Evtimovden. This holiday is a celebration of

salvation, survivor and storage of male power. According to the custom of that day is slaughtered cock. With its blood people splash the door of the house, around it and on the

fence.

Also they paint a cross on the foreheads of boys for healthy. It is believed that these traditions have started to the time in the Ottoman

rule. Then people were killing a cock so they can mark their doors and the turks think that the boys from this house are already taken.

Triffon ZarezanOn February 14th is a Bulgarian folk holiday in honor of St. Trifon. It is

celebrated by the winegrowers, the falconers, the gardeners and the innkeepers. All gather and select 'the king of the vines. Only then did

general feast begins. “The king" is suspended with a wreath of vine slips that brings on his head, and another garland which puts across his shoulders. He seated on a cart. The winegrowers pull the cart and to the

sound of bagpipes and drums to the village or town.

Todorovden

We celebrate Todorovden on the first Saturday of Lent. At sunrise - the men entangled the tails and the manes of the

horses, decorate them with beads, tassels and flowers and lead them to water. There follows the horse race. The winner is

rewarded, as the horse usually gets a bridle, while his owner - shirt or towel. The winner of race toured with his horse all the

homes to congratulated.

Shrove

Shrove (Forgiveness) is an important winter-spring festival in the folk calendar. The holiday is celebrated seven weeks before Easter (always on Sundays) and enduring one week, which is perform different rituals

and customs.

Traditionally younger visit the homes of older relatives and ask for forgiveness. On the table are put milk and egg products. During the

dinner is performed the ritual hamkane.

On a red thread is tied a boiled egg or halva. The oldest man spins the thread over the kids and they try to catch it with mouth and using no

hands. In some regions after the dinner people set large fires and jump over them in order to be healthy.

Kukeri

Kukeri Day is celebrated exactly on the first Sunday before Lent. The mummers are dancing through the streets to scare the evil spirits and to banish the cold and for the fertility and health performed ritual actions

such as plowing and sowing. The mummers games and customs are performed only by men, mainly bachelors. In every home the mummers perform various household and comic scenes as highly spill the beans

hang on them bells. The mummer masks must be ugly and scary to scare the evil.

Baba Marta  is the name of a mythical figure, who brings with her

the end of the cold winter and the beginning of the spring.

In Bulgaria on 1st of March every year

we celebrate her holiday.On this day we

give each other martenitsi.

Baba Marta

Martenitsi

"Martenitsi" are red and white coloured bands (bracelets, necklaces, brooches, rings and etc.)

that symbolize health and happiness.

They are given away to friends and family and are worn around the wrist or on clothes.

Mar

teni

tsi People wear their Martenitsi almost the whole

month, until they see a stork or a swallow, returning from migration.

Then remove theMartenitsa and hang iton a blossoming tree.

Krustovden

The Orthodox Church celebrates on September 14 the Elevation of the Holy Cross of the Lord. With the Krustovden, also called

Grozdobernik, indicate the start of autumn.

On this day the church performed pilgrimage before the Holy One and a quickening Cross of the Lord. The tradition the Krustovden strict fast

is kept. According to folk tradition, this day is associated with late summer and early fall. Lights down on the seeds and begin the vintage.

Nikulden

Nikulden is one of the most important Orthodox holidays. It is dedicated to Sveti Nicholas Mirlikiiski, who is honored as a deliverer of

captives and the patron of sailors, travelers, traders and bankers. The holiday is celebrated on December 6. The most typical ritual is

preparing a special meal - Rybnik. Women should be careful when cleaning the fish because it’s believe that if fish scale fall on the ground

and you step on it you get ill and die.

Survakane

Survakane is our favorite tradition. Very early morning on the first day of the New Year people go from house to house and perform survakane wishing people health and fertile year. Survakane is hitting people on the back with a specially decorated cornel stick. In return people give them fruit and nowadays money.

The end

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