On December 4, Bulgarians venerate the feast day of Saint Varvara (Saint Barbara), a Christian Holy Great martyr, considered the patron saint of those who died a sudden death, not having the time to repent and to receive the holy communion. Saint Varvara was born at the end of the 3^rd century in Asia Minor into a pagan aristocratic family. She adopted Christianity as a young girl and was firm in her choices. At the behest of her father she was beheaded. A temple was built above her grave where believers would find a cure for their ailments.

Saint Varvara's relics are located in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra in Kiev, but fragments of them were transferred and donated to Sofia in 1957 as a gift by Patriarch Alexy I of Moscow and all Russia, and are kept in the Church of the Holy Transfiguration located in Sofia’s Lozenets district.

In Bulgarian folk tradition the holiday is also called "Women's Christmas". On that day, young girls would put on their best clothes, go round the houses in the village and sing songs for health to the community.

St. Varvara’s Day marks the beginning of three consecutive Christian holidays. On December 5^th we venerate the feast day of St. Sava and on December 6^th the major Christian holiday of Saint Nicholas (known in Bulgaria as Nikulden).