ellie925
In Bulgaria, Christmas Eve is the last day of the Christmas fast and even though most people don’t fast, all the dishes at the dinner are vegetarian.
We put an odd number of dishes, usually, 7, 9 or 11, and every food has a different symbolism. Some of the traditional dishes are peppers or cabbage; wine leafs stuffed with rice; beans or lentils; baked pumpkin; fruits and vegetables. Dried fruits, walnuts, garlic, honey and wine are mandatory, too.
We also put a coin and other charms in the bread to tell our fortune for the next year.
Many places in the country have different rituals of divination using walnuts or cornel buds or by the weather during the day.
Another custom that hasn’t been practised that much lately is “Koleduvane”. That’s when boys and men in folk costumes go from house to house singing and wishing health and fertility, and receiving gifts.
How do you celebrate Christmas Eve in your country?
Photo: Pixabay
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Thanks for sharing, it’s wonderful to learn how others celebrate the holidays.
I am very interested in that too. Merry Christmas! ?
Nice post indeed loved it so much
Thank you! I am glad you like it!
Looks like a very rich table indeed
That’s a photo from pixabay.com
Thank you for posting an interesting post and I was able to get to know part of your tradition … Here is a traditional Christmas dinner of cabbage and roasted meat or sausage … it is midnight that the family goes to the Holy Mass – midnight
Thank you so much for sharing some of your traditions too, the dishes sound delicious! Happy Holidays! 🙂
If we put a coin in our bread the only thing it would foretell is a trip to the emergency room to get it removed from our digestive system. 🙂
Haha, we are all aware of the coin here, so the chance is small. Actually, since getting the coin is considered the biggest luck, everybody is looking for it. 🙂
Very interesting habits – thanks Ellie, that you shared them with us – do not celebrate in Bulgaria on Christmas Day of January 7th?
Thank you! No, we celebrate Christmas on December 25. 🙂
Did you think that you were Orthodox? I apologize
We are Orthodox, but we follow the Gregorian calendar. It’s confusing indeed!
My dear really is a bit confusing, but cute when you celebrate 2x
Thanks for sharing part of your world with us.
We have a few traditions in the US on Christmas Eve.
Some families open their gifts, instead of waiting for
Christmas morning. Others wait until the morning.
Some get together for a big dinner, others wait for
Christmas day.
Thank you so much, Carol! It is similar here too: everybody has their own habits.
That is the unique and exciting way to celebrate Christmas Eve!
Thank you so much, Albert!
Anytime, Ellie. By the way, may I joint with your unique Christmas celebration? Hehehe…
You are more than welcome!
For us Bulgarians, this is a very special evening.
I agree! Happy Holidays, Elenka!
Thats really interesting Ellie. Great to hear about how others live
Thank you so much, Pamela! I’m happy you found it interesting 🙂
It sounds like fun. I don’t have any traditions. I just maybe take a stroll at the local mall, window-shopping and checking out decorations, after maybe going to a morning movie.
Thank you for sharing your personal traditions! Malls are a nice place to visit during the holidays with all their gorgeous decorations.
Thank you for sharing how the citizens in Bulgaria celebrate Christmas.
I hope it was interesting for you,! Happy Holidays!
Likewise ellie925 that you have a superb holiday yourself.
Thank you once again! 🙂
You are very welcome ellie925.
Interesting to read of Bulgaria’s Christmas Eve traditions. The coin in the bread reminds me of a fun New Year’s tradition here when a dime is added to a cooked cabbage dish. Many things work together in the USA to make Christmas Eve celebrations quite varied but most would say that it is a time for family and friends to get together no matter what the focus of the event is for the evening.
Thank you so much, I agree with you that it’s a wonderful time for family and friends to get together and spend a nice time.
yam yam , want to eat this all
Hehe, thank you for stopping by!