Christmas Celebrations 2024 in Bulgaria

While Bulgaria is an Eastern Orthodox country, it celebrates Christmas on December 25, similar to Catholic traditions, with religious observances that resemble those in Western countries. However, in certain regions, some communities continue to observe Christmas in the traditional Orthodox manner on January 7.

Celebration Highlights

For many Bulgarians, Christmas preparations begin with Advent, a 40-day period in the Orthodox Church that starts on November 15. From this time, people start creating festive decorations and purchasing special cards that hold wishes to be baked into traditional "pogača" bread. Across the main squares of cities and villages, Christmas markets open, offering visitors a chance to pick up gifts and enjoy hot mulled wine with a tasty snack.

Main Traditions

In Bulgaria, Christmas is a deeply cherished family holiday, celebrated primarily at home with close friends and family members. Surprisingly, church attendance on Christmas is not as common as in some other cultures. Still, following the Christmas Eve meal some people will go to a Midnight Mass service.

The festivities begin on December 24 with the Holy Supper, or Бъдни вечер (Budni Vecher). Traditionally, the table is set with an odd number of vegetarian dishes, and an odd number of guests is preferred for good fortune. A central feature of the meal is a round, decorated loaf of bread called "pogača" (or pita in some regions), which has a coin baked inside. Finding the coin in one’s slice is believed to bring good luck for the coming year. The bread is customarily cut by the eldest at the table, who then distributes it to everyone present.

After dinner, the hosts leave the remains of a Christmas dinner until morning for the spirits of ancestors who might come back to visit. Christmas Eve might be all-vegetarian, but on Christmas Day, it’s time for feasting on an enormous dinner that includes a main dish of some type of meat. Traditionally, a baked goose or a suckling pig is cooked for a holiday. In Bulgarian, Merry Christmas is 'Vesela Koleda'.

Bulgarian Carolers

In Bulgaria, singing carols is an integral part of the Christmas celebration. On Christmas Eve, at the stroke of midnight, groups of Koledari, or Christmas carolers, begin their rounds, visiting homes throughout the villages. These groups are typically composed of young men dressed in traditional costumes that vary depending on the region. The Koledari make special preparations for these festive performances, which, like many Bulgarian traditions, are believed to offer protection against evil spirits. As they go from house to house, the carolers are often welcomed with sweets and, on occasion, a small monetary gift.

If you are interested in Bulgarian culture and traditions, follow the link to read about NYE celebrations here.