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

1 January: The Bulgarian Orthodox church honours St. Basil the Great

Photo: Radio Vidin

On 1 January the Bulgarian Orthodox church marks the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ and St. Basil’s Day. January 1 is the day when the memory is honoured of influential theologian St. Basil the Great, who dedicated himself to pious and charitable work. 

Almost 127,000 Bulgarians named Vassil, Vassilia, Vassilena, Vesselin, Vessela etc., celebrate their name-day today. In Bulgarian folklore tradition, the day is called Vassilitsa and Survaki. The ritual of survakane is performed early in the morning as young boys make the rounds of the homes in the town or village, and tap the backs of family and friends with a decorated cornel twig (survachka) with wishes for health and prosperity.



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

Weather forecast: Daytime highs will reach 30°C on Saturday

It will be mostly cloudy on Saturday, with a chance of rain in Eastern Bulgaria, the Upper Thracian Plain and the mountains. It will stop raining in the afternoon hours and clouds will begin to break up. There will be moderate to strong easterly and..

published on 9/6/24 6:19 PM

A monument to Vasil Levski was unveiled in Chiprovtsi

A monument to Vasil Levski was unveiled in the town of Chiprovtsi (Northwestern Bulgaria). It was donated to the local municipality by Bulgarian oncologist and patriot Professor Dr. Ivan Gavrilov on the occasion of the town's holiday. Professor..

published on 9/6/24 4:51 PM

Politicians congratulate the nation on the occasion of Unification Day

On September 6, 1885, Bulgaria demonstrated that no artificial border can exist between Bulgarians. Today, we strive to remove the last one, artificially separating us from the European Union. United, we will succeed!", caretaker Premier Dimitar..

published on 9/6/24 2:43 PM