Christmas and Happy new year

In Bulgaria Christmas is celebrated on the 25th, 26 th and 27th of December. The Bulgarians have a lot of interesting customs such as koledarstvo, posti and many others.

Koledarstvo is a tradition for boys and unmarried young men visiting all the houses of the neighborhood, singing Christmas songs that wish good health to their hosts. They receive treats in return such as money or food. And this all happens at midnight on Christmas Eve.

Posti means ''not eating meat or any animal products(including eggs and dairy products)''. It lasts from 15th November until the 25th of December. Because of that the Christmas Eve dinner consist of seven, nine or twelve traditional Bulgarian vegetarian dishes such as wheat, corn, soup of lentils, soup of haricot beans, nuts, red peppers with rice, apples, pears, quince, "sarmi", "banitsa" and "baklava". The number twelve represents the twelve months of the year and the main dish is a huge round bread called pitka in which there is a coin and everyone of the family has to take a piece. The one who takes the part with the coin will be the richest in the family and will earn a lot of money in the next year.

Christmas Eve has always been one of the best expected evenings for all people, one of the most festive ones in Bulgaria, the time when whole family comes together and goes to church.

"Koledari" from the town of Yambol
The ritual "Koleduvane", the town of Yambol
"Silent Night" in Bulgarian
Bulgarian Christmas songs

‘Happy new year!’ are the three most exciting words you can hear when the clock strikes twelve on the Eve of January the first. Everybody loves to hear these words because they mark the beginning of the next year and all that comes with it. For some people the past was filled with difficulties and disappointments and they are anxious to start a new one. For others, it’s just an occasion to party and get together with lots of people.

In Bulgaria we celebrate either with our families, loved ones or with friends. Some get together at friends’ houses, drink, eat and wait for the New Year to arrive. Others cook until the afternoon and prepare tasty dishes to enjoy together with their family. Some couples celebrate alone. A lot people gather at main squares in their cities where there usually is a big Christmas tree in the middle. There are big concerts that people go to and celebrate until one or two o’clock in the morning. The best part is right after the countdown stops and the fireworks fill the sky with color. Everyone lights Bengal fires and makes calls to congratulate people they know.

About five or six o’clock in the morning boys and men, called ‘survakari’ put traditional Bulgarian clothing on and go from house to house and sing songs for health and prosperity. They hit the hosts on the backs with decorated sticks called ‘surovachki’ while singing. Then the hosts give them treats and money and send them off to the next house.

Another tradition is the ‘banitsa s kasmeti’. It’s made of sheets of pastry with cheese between them and there are few –centimeters- long cornel-tree branches in each slice. The branches represent the good fortunes that will follow you through the following year.

New Year is one of the biggest holidays in Bulgaria!

Тиха нощ, Свята нощ
Тиха нощ, Свята нощ
всичко спи сал една
свята двойка над своя син бди,
над главица със руси коси.
А навред тишина, а навред тишина.

Тиха нощ, Свята нощ
вест дойде най-напред
от пастирите секли нощта
чули ангел да носи вестта,
че Христос се роди, че Христос се роди

Тиха нощ, Свята нощ
две очи и във тях
нежен поглед сияещ от смях.
Лъч надежда достигна до нас
за спасителен час, за спасителен час.

Зън, зън, зън
Вдига облак сняг
конче с чуден бяг,
по поля летим
и се веселим!

Виж луна изгря
пътят заблестя
нашата шейна лети
и звънче звъни.

Пр.: Зън, зън, зън...
Ставайте от сън.
Вижте, вън шейни летят
и звънци звънят!

Снежинки
Баба Зима пак размята
белия кожух.
Ний се стелим по земята
леки като пух.

Припев:
Над къщички и дворчета,
край светлите прозорчета
летим, летим и се въртим,
децата веселим!

Ставайте, дечица малки,
ставйте от сън!
Чакат ви игри, пързалки.
Тичайте навън!

Припев:...

Баба Зима пак размята
белия кожух.
Ний се стелим по земята
леки като пух.

Silent Night - Lyrics


Silent night, Holy night

All is calm, all is bright

Round yon Virgin Mother and Child

Holy Infant so tender and mild

Sleep in Heavenly peace

Sleep in Heavenly peace



Silent night, Holy night

Shepherds quake at the sight

Glories stream from Heaven afar

Heavenly hosts sing Hallelujah

Christ, the Savior is born

Christ, the Savior is born



Silent night, Holy night

Son of God, love’s pure light

Radiant beams from thy Holy face

With the dawn of redeeming grace

Jesus, Lord, at thy birth

Jesus, Lord, at thy birth


Santa Claus is stamping with the red boots, cheerful kids, the sled stopped next by you. There will be presents wholeheartedly for everyone. Let’s join the ring dace for the New Year! Look in the sack, there are teddy-bears, monkeys, drummers .There is a book for Elka , accordion for Spas and a plush cock for Anton.



The snow is pouring quietly for the first time and is caressingly nipping the cheeks again. Where is the old stub in the yard, the snow has covered up everything outside. The barn has a snow cap, the snow has covered up the door-sill. Sharo is anxiously shaking head, Sharo is just a little puppy, he just can’t understand. How silly you are, Sharo , how cowardly you are looking the snow.


Winter Song


Above the silenced fields

copper bells are singing.

Painted tray passed

the white trail in the snow.

Ring, ring, ring,

the white trail in the snow!


Playful horses are running,

tossing frosted manes.

There is a road full

of snow-drifts hiding

in the village.


Ring, ring, ring

hiding in the village.

Houses are hugging in the snow,

chimneys are smoking,

As if grandmas are spinning

fluffy woolballs.


Ring, ring , ring

fluffy woolballs.