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

Carol singers in Bulgaria's Yambоl not only sing blessings, but also dance the buenek

Photo: Daniela Kostova, BNR correspondent in Yambol

In Yambol, a large Christmas carolling festival is traditionally organized on December 25, in which dozens of caroling groups (koledari) sing and dance.

Only in Yambol the carollers not only sing and bless, but also dance.
The Yambol Christmas buenek dance was born more than a century ago in the oldest district of the town, Kargon. At that time, there were cavalry troops in the Yambol garrison. The caroling boys liked their clothes and begin to imitate them, says ethnographer Dinka Angelova:
"The Yambol carollers, while they were going from house to house on the evening of Christmas Eve before Christmas, began to stamp their feet - firstly to warm themselves and secondly so that the young maidens could hear that their chosen ones would visit their house."

The spurred boots, the military breeches and the saber carried by the leader of the carollers, the exuberant Christmas dancing and carolling can be seen and heard on today's festive day in Yambol.




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

Daniel Spasov

The forgotten meaning of caroling traditions revealed by singer Daniel Spasov

Every holiday has its own flavour, its own 'clothes' and its own tunes. Christmas is no different. "Little is known about traditional Bulgarian carols and their purpose, little is said, and even the wrong things are said. But the most important thing is..

published on 12/26/24 8:15 AM

The magic of Christmas – from the ancient blessings of carolers to the appearance of Santa Claus in our lands

On Christmas morning the glad tidings have spread that the Son of God was born, making it a special day celebrated with a lot of festive rituals. After Christmas Eve, when families get together for a festive meal, comes Christmas. On 25 December the..

published on 12/25/24 9:00 AM

"Come down, Dzherman, and dine!" – the lost magic of Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve, once called Budnik, Little Christmas or Neyadka, was considered part of a dark, frightening period, charged with the potential to influence the entire upcoming year. For this reason, the night before Christmas was associated with..

published on 12/24/24 5:30 AM