Three holidays at the beginning of December mark the transition from ‎autumn to winter

December 4 is the church holiday of the Holy Great Martyr Barbara, celebrated ‎by both Orthodoxy and Catholicism. Barbara was a girl from a noble family, ‎beheaded for her Christian faith at the beginning of the 4th century. There is a ‎belief that from Varvara to Ignatius the day "rises" like a needle's tip. It also ‎‎"rises" from Ignacius to Vasil (from December 20 to January 1). On Varvara, ‎day and night meet and become equal. The holiday is also called Varvaritsa, ‎Varvarinden or Women's Christmas.‎

In traditional representations, Varvara is the patroness of children's diseases, ‎and above all, smallpox, called by our people by taboo names: grandmother, ‎aunt, sweet and honeyed. An evil, toothless and ugly grandmother - the image ‎of the disease "paints" Varvara's portrait as well. In order to propitiate Baba ‎Sharka (grandma Smallpox) and divert her from the children, the women ‎prepared a ritual stew in which they put various wheat and bean seeds. They ‎call it "varvara". Sweetened with honey, this stew is given to children, and also ‎to neighbors and relatives. There is a belief that throughout the day the children ‎should jump so that Varvara does not find them. ‎

The name Women's Christmas comes from a custom spread mainly in Western ‎Bulgaria. Festively dressed girls and younger girls, with bags slung over their ‎shoulders, go around the houses. ‎Like male carollers, they sing blessing songs, ‎wishing for health and fertility.‎

00:00 / 00:00

Christmas Triptych performed by the Mystery of Bulgarian Voices

The next day (December 5), the church honours the memory of Saint Sava - a ‎Serbian cleric, diplomat, fighter for the independence of the Serbian church. In ‎‎1235, he visited the capital Veliko Tarnovo, was greeted with great honours, ‎took part in the Great Epiphany water blessing service. After a very short ‎illness, he left this world and was buried in the "Holy Forty Martyrs" church in ‎the old capital of Bulgaria. Later, his relics left Veliko Tarnovo. ‎

In traditional notions of Bulgarians, Saint Sava is most often a woman, ‎Varvara's sister. Saint Sava reigns over the plague. In some areas of Bulgaria, ‎scissors, needles, knives, etc. are not touched on this day, so as not to anger the ‎sisters. It is also widely believed that Saint Sava is a man who is the patron ‎saint of wolves.‎

00:00 / 00:00

Saint Nicholas is putting hoofs on his horse, performed by Milen Dimitrov

In Bulgarian folklore, Saint Nicholas is the brother of Varvara and Sava. The ‎proverb "Varvara cooks, Sava bakes, Nikola meets guests" is very popular, as ‎it unites the three important holidays located at the transition from autumn to ‎winter.‎

Ruler of rivers and seas, of sea storms and gales, Nicholas has the power to ‎start and stop these elements. In folk mythology, he is a winged hero who can ‎fly to a great height and thus observe the sea lions. The church holiday is on ‎December 6. This is one of the few days during Lent where fish is allowed. ‎The ritual dish that is prepared in every house is stuffed carp. Because the saint ‎also rules over fish and sea monsters. Ritual bread covered with special plastic ‎images is also kneaded. People used to exchange gifts on this day - a memory ‎of the Miracle Worker's infinite generosity to the poor and his kindnesses, ‎about which legends are still told today. Saint Nicholas Day is the biggest ‎holiday of the triad, the beginning of the great Christmas-New Year ritual cycle, ‎which ends at the end of January.‎

‎ ‎

Various ritual breads are kneaded for the day of St. Nicholas. Together with the ‎ritual dish of stuffed carp, they are an invariable part of the feast of this much ‎revered saint, ruler of the sea, sea storms and halls. The breads that were ‎prepared for the Nicholas Day table are found in various other customs - for ‎example, Rangelovden (the day of the Archangel Michael), on Christmas Eve, ‎at personal and general sacrifices.

Very common is the so-called “ribnik” which ‎is a stuffed whole carp wrapped in dough, decorated like ritual bread. In some ‎settlements they made the so-called fish church. The prepared Christmas breads ‎and the tray with the stuffed carp (or ribnik) were taken to the church. The ‎priest would smoke the ritual foods, the people would take them back and the ‎whole family would line up around the table. In some villages, the priests went ‎around the houses and there they performed the consecration of the bread and ‎the fish. This table was not cleared away for a whole day after that. And the ‎house was open to everyone - neighbors, relatives and random travelers.

The ‎holiday is celebrated with great solemnity to this day, especially in the families where ‎there are Nikola, Nikolay, Nikolina and persons with derivatives of these names who have their ‎name day on December 6.‎

Compiled by Albena Bezovska

Music selection by Albena Bezovska

Share

Bulgarian traditions and customs related to the celebration of Saints ‎Barbara, Sava and Nicholas

Three holidays at the beginning of December mark the transition from ‎autumn to winter

More from category

St Lazarus Day celebrated with traditional lazaruvane in Tryavna

The cuckoo calls for the first time, animals awaken from their winter sleep on Blagovets

Masquerade Games Festival is being held in Bulgaria's Stara Zagora

St Lazarus Day celebrated with traditional lazaruvane in Tryavna