Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

The magic of Christ’s Nativity, or when the heavens spread open

Photo: BGNES

The Nativity of Jesus Christ or Christmas is the most beloved and long-awaited holiday by young and old alike. Similar to other holidays in Bulgaria, it is full of rites and rituals, some of which are rooted centuries ago.

On the eve of December 25th is Christmas Eve (known here as “Badni vecher”). Then the whole family gathers around the table. To this day, the tradition of placing only an odd number of meatless dishes is observed on it.

In the past, the holiday table had to include everything that was produced in the household - wheat, beans, pickles, garlic, honey, walnuts and wine. Nowadays we seem to rely mostly on the supermarket, but it is a matter of honour for the hostess to prepare the obligatory cabbage leaves stuffed with beans, the homemade banitsa and the mandatory home-made round bread with a coin inside for luck and health. It is customary for the eldest member in the family to break the ritual bread and give a piece to everyon present. Whoever gets the coin will be the lucky one in the family next year, people believe.


Once on the night before Christmas, people used to put a special Christmas log in the hearth and would make a guess about what the coming year would bring based on how the log was burning.

Our ancestors used to believe that at midnight the skies opened and the boundaries between the heaven and earth merged. Then the souls of the dead descended among the living. And when midnight struck, the carol singers would go from house to house, singing songs to drive away the evil spirits roaming everywhere. Now this tradition is still alive in some villages in Bulgaria.

You will learn more about the magic of Christmas Eve in the Bulgarian tradition in the publication Christmas Eve and the birth of Young God from Radio Bulgaria’s Best collection.

Edited by Veneta Nikolova

Photos: BGNES and archive



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

The hottest days of the year known as "goreshtnitsi" start in Bulgaria

The  goreshtnitsi –  dog days, the hottest days of summer in Bulgaria fall on 15, 16 and 17 July. Their roots go back to pagan times and are connected with the cult of fire. The tradition of  goreshtnitsi  is observed mostly in Northern and..

published on 7/15/24 10:34 AM
Photo: Scientific Society of Bulgarians in the Republic of Moldova

Bulgarians in Moldova pay tribute to the feat of Hristo Botev and the heroes of Bulgaria

Did you know that in the Moldovan capital Chisinau there is a street named after Hristo Botev? Located about three kilometers from the city center, there stands an impressive monument to the Bulgarian poet, revolutionary and public figure, who died in..

published on 6/1/24 2:10 PM

The tradition of sending Easter cards in Bulgaria dates back to the Liberation

When we have a special occasion where we meet relatives or friends, as a sign of respect and as a memory, we usually present them with a gift, complete with a beautiful card. In the past, the card received was kept as a cherished memory and even passed..

published on 5/4/24 4:35 AM