Christmas Eve

published on 12/17/11 10:34 AM

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Christmas Eve

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When it snows on Christmas Eve, bees will swarm more than usual. Foggy weather would mean too much fog during the year to come. Dreams during the magic night of Christmas Eve usually become reality. There is a varied mosaic of folk traditions that surround the night full of promise. Having survived since time immemorial, they create a fascinating atmosphere of a typically Bulgarian feast with plenty of colors, tastes, sounds and emotions.

Budni Vecher (Christmas Eve), Small Christmas, Bozhitch, are all names that Bulgarians use for the Holy Night, preceding Nativity of Christ. The date was established by the church in 6 c. Until then this time of year was dominated by a diversity of pagan rituals and practices, focused on welcoming the new beginning. The population of the Bulgarian lands celebrated the birth of the Young God or the New Sun. The time slot close to the winter solstice was perceived as a very special moment of the year.

Christmas Eve gave the start of the so-called Unclean Days, the period bringing full renovation of natural energies. In the folklore tradition Christmas Eve meant that heaven would open up, meaning the earthly and heavenly world become one. The symbols of the day are meant to prepare the community for transition and to deliver knowledge about intransient values and essential matters.

One of the first preparatory jobs done early in the morning on 24 December is the preparation of the Budnik, a piece of wood that will burn the whole night in the hearth and will make valuable predictions about the new year. Budnik is a piece of wood cut down on the same day. It is selected from among fertile trees bearing plenty of fruit, and the selection is the job of male members of the family. The piece is cut down in a special way, and a small hole is made in it where incense is put, as well as butter and wine. Then the log is wrapped in linen. As it is brought into the house, the young man who has cut it down asks, “Do you hymn Young God?” The family chants, “Yes, we hymn Young God! Welcome!”

This ritual may sound fairly archaic, but fact is, it exists even today. Many Bulgarians turn the Budnik practice into an intriguing episode of Christmas Eve. The detailed ritual is performed only rarely, though. It is essential for the man who has brought the log to make sure that the fire burns all night, a token of wellbeing during the coming year.

The Christmas Eve meal is a very exciting moment for many Bulgarians. Earlier in history the festive dinner would be served straight on the floor, on a “tray” of straw. It is the last day of the Christmas Lent. Fasting was a universal duty and only few exceptions were admitted – elderly and sick people, children and travelers. Today few Bulgarians follow strictly the rules of Christmas fasting. Regardless of that everybody make a Christmas Eve dinner that is vegan. The number of dishes served is an odd number – at least seven, or nine, eleven, etc. Even large hotels and restaurants offer to their guests some traditional dishes such as cabbage stuffed with rice, boiled beans, pumpkin pie, stewed dried fruit and a round loaf with a coin inside. Honey, walnuts, fruit and raw wheat were also present.

The preparation of the food starts very early in the morning and bread is key. In it a coin is placed that is in fact the single fortune slip. The solemn dinner starts with breaking the bread and incensing the table. The first piece from the loaf is put aside for the Holy Virgin.

Young people today often download recipes from the internet and then proudly share photos of their creations on social networks. Seasoned housewives however keep the old recipes of older generations in the family and more importantly, they keep the feeling of sacred rites. The table is laid with utmost care and attention. Nothing should be missed to make sure the year is prosperous. During the meal, nobody is allowed to rise from the table, so that luck remains in the household for the next 12 months. If the walnut broken on Christmas Eve is full, the year will be healthy and successful too. If one tugs a piece of bread under their pillow, they will dream their future.

Translated by Daniela Konstantinova

По публикацията работи: Albena Bezovska

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Christmas Eve

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