Christmas carolers

Christmas Eve and Christmas, in addition to family holidays, are also generally village holidays. Even a week before the holiday, the carol groups gather to remember the old songs and learn new ones. The leader of a squad was the oldest and was called Stanenik. Not everyone and not always could carol. But a guy who wasn't a caroler...

Christmas – December 25

The day after Christmas Eve is Christmas Day. Here again Christian and old folk beliefs are intertwined. At Christmas, the 40-day fast ends. The Church celebrates the birth of the Savior, and the people - the birth of the new Sun. The main symbolism of Christmas is eternal nature, dying and being reborn again and again. The Christmas table is rich and mostly with...

Christmas Eve – December 24

Christmas Eve is one of the most important days of the year for a Bulgarian. The holiday is not movable and is also called Little Christmas. In our native folklore, the rituals and rites with which the birth of the son of God is welcomed are rich. There are many symbols that accompany the holiday. In the holiday-ritual system of Christmas Eve and Christmas, the biblical ...

IGNAZHDAY – December 20

According to the proto-Bulgarian calendar, this is the single day, which is not included in any of the months. It is considered the beginning of the new year. The day marks the winter solstice, when the day is shortest and the night is longest. In the distant past, this astronomical phenomenon occurred around December 20. In 2023, the winter solstice falls on …

Winter holidays between Nicholas Day and Ignazhden

WINTER ST. ANNA - December 9 Saint Anna, according to the Bible, is the mother of the Holy Virgin and grandmother of Jesus. On this day, the conception of St. Mary. Anna is a descendant of the famous Aaron family. She is the patroness of women in labor, pregnant women and the family. The people call the holiday Janino or Annino's conception, New Year's Day, Annino's introduction, ...

CHRISTMAS – December 6

The holiday is Christian and folk. It is dedicated to Saint Nicholas the Miracle Worker of Mirlikia or Saint Nicholas, patron of the seas and of sailors and fishermen. Nicholas was born in 280 in Lycia, a province in Asia Minor into a rich and famous family. He is known as an opponent of paganism and Arianism. Nikolay is the Russian form of the name Nikola. …

SAINT SAVA and BARBARA – December 4, 5

The day of St. Barbara is celebrated on December 4. The people consider the saint to be the patron saint of smallpox – a disease that mostly affected children, but also many adults. In order not to get sick, they did not mention this name on that day, and to appease her, they called her Baba Sharka. In Thrace there is a custom of slaughtering a hen...

Folk instruments - KAVAL

The kaval is a musical instrument from the group of woodwind instruments. He is an inseparable companion of the Bulgarian shepherds. It is found in almost all folklore areas, being the most characteristic in Thrace, Ludogorie and Dobruja. It is used as a solo instrument and in folk orchestras and ensembles. It has a soft and pleasant tone. Importance of Types of Garment Parts – …

Symbolism in folk art - THE HYSTERS and the DRAGON

From "Once upon a time - manners and worldview of the Bulgarians" Orisnits The people call them orisnits or adverbs. The three women who, on the third day after the child's birth, go to his home at night and determine his fate. Orisnikas are of different ages. They stand above his head and the youngest begins. Then the middle and finally the oldest. The power…

Main parts of the house according to folk beliefs

From "Once upon a time - manners and worldview of the Bulgarians" The hearth After the house is ready, half of the rites and religious customs are performed in honor and around the hearth. The hearth in many rites and customs replaces the house and the concept of house. It is not by chance that songs often sing "father's hearth" instead of "father's house". The hearth is…