Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Bulgarians mark the feast of Saint Varvara also known as Women's Christmas

Icon to Saint Varvara
Photo: Archive

Today, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church honors the holy great martyr Varvara - a maiden from a noble family, beheaded for her Christian faith at the beginning of the 4th century. 

The day is also called Women's Christmas. This name comes from a custom in the central part of Western Bulgaria, according to which disguised maidens and younger girls with bags slung over their shoulders go around the houses and sing songs of blessings with wishes for health and fertility, and the owners give them gifts. 

The tradition resembles the custom of the carol singers (koledari), which, however, is performed only by boys and young men. 

Bulgarians in the past used to say that on Saint Varvara's Day the day and night find each other, i.e. they become equal.

Read also:



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

Ancient finds, new discoveries –2024 in archaeology at the National History Museum

In 2024, the National History Museum sent expeditions to 22 archaeological sites. More than 1,400 artifacts were found during the season spanning the period from prehistoric times down to the Middle Ages. The most significant of these discoveries are..

updated on 1/31/25 3:00 PM

BNR's Radio Bulgaria starts a podcast about our Orthodox communities abroad

From 31 January 2025, the first podcast about Bulgarian Orthodox communities abroad - Bridge of Faith - will be launched. The concept is the brainchild of the team of the Bulgarian National Radio's (BNR) overseas programme - Radio Bulgaria, and is being..

published on 1/31/25 7:15 AM
Tsar Boris III (1894-1943)

Tsar Boris III Unifier remembered by his son Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha

It is 131 years since the birth of Tsar Boris III, dubbed unifier. Boris Saxe-Coburg-Gotha found himself at the head of Bulgaria after the abdication of Tsar Ferdinand after the defeat of the country in World War I. The young monarch was crowned..

published on 1/30/25 6:10 AM