Part of the magic of Christmas are the rituals we keep in the family tradition and which we remember every year. For many of us, this is a special moment, especially now that our lives are taking on a different shape as a result of the pandemic and all constraints.

Although this year the holiday feels different, it again gives us faith and warmth, even when we have to deprive ourselves of face-to-face meetings with our relatives and friends.

In the past, the period from St. Ignatius Day on December 20^th to Christmas on December 25^th was filled with a cycle o customs, including the traditional Bulgarian custom of “koleduvane” (the tour of the village performed by the carol singers). The so-called “koledari” (carol singers) were group of young unmarried boys.

On the night after Badni Vecher (Christmas Eve), the groups of carol singers would start their ritual tour of the entire village accompanied by the sound of the bagpipe. They went from house to house, drawing a symbolic circle around the entire village. They did not miss a single house bringing to the hosts their songs and blessings for health and fertility.

Learn more about the old Bulgarian custom of the good Christmas guests, the carol singers and their Christmas blessings in the publication Bulgarian Christmas and the tradition of carol singers from Radio Bulgaria’s Best collection.

Edited by Albena Bezovska