Bulgarian TraditionBulgaria is a place where history is counted in Epochs. The traditional holiday calendar of the Bulgarians is varied and complicated. The ancient culture on the Balkans has left its imprint on the calendar of the various holidays and ceremonies in Bulgaria. With no written language of their own, we are left to learn about them today from their rich archaeological remains, and from the Greek Writers who were their contemporaries. There are some family holidays that are of great significance for the Bulgarians. The most important of them are christening.
Traditional Holidays in BulgariaIn a concise version the traditional holiday calendar of the Bulgarians would look like that:
- Name Day - a Name Day is the feast day of the saint after whom one is named.
- Sirni Zagovezni - marks the beginning of the Great Lent
- Baba Marta - an interesting ancient tradition celebrated on the first day of March.
- National Day - March 3 - Bulgaria's "Day of Independence"
- Kukeri - A ritual to ensure the advent of spring
- Palm Sunday - Bulgaria celebrates Palm Sunday as the "Holiday of Flowers and Trees"
- Easter - In 2007 the Orthodox Easter is on Sunday, April 8
- Day of Culture -honors two missionary brothers, Sts. Cyril and Methodius, who developed the first Bulgarian alphabet
- Enyovden (June 24) is a festival connected with the summer solstice.
- 26 October is devoted to St. Dimitri of Thessalonica
- December 6 Nikulden is "The Day of Saint Nikolas"
- 20 December is 'Ignazhden' in Bulgaria
- December 25 Christmas - Bulgaria celebrates Christmas for three days starting on
- December 27 is STEFANOVDEN (Nameday of St. Stephen or Stefan's Day)
