Bulgaria’s ancient ritual tradition on Christmas Eve is still alive today

Christmas Eve is a holiday of humility, gratitude and hope. Although not everyone observes the entire period of Christmas Lent, on this day Bulgarians gather around the traditional table to share the warmth of the home hearth, the ritual meal, the feeling of belonging to some ancient mystery. And if on most days of the year we seek the different and the new, on Christmas Eve we try to repeat the tradition as we have inherited it.

Nowadays, the most important thing is the preparation of the table, but many other elements of the folklore holiday are still present. In the past, the yule-log, or Budnik, that should go on burning in the hearth all night was prepared early in the morning. When cutting it down, men were careful not to let it touch the ground, but immediately picked it up in their hands and solemnly carried it into their home. Usually they cut down a strong a large oak, beech or pear. In some parts of the country, a festively dressed young man enters the yard with the felled tree and asks: "Do you praise the Young God?" And the other family members respond: "We praise, we praise, welcome!" A hole was made in the wide part of the log and incense and oil were put inside it. Today, the flame is still the symbol of this magic night, however it is present in the lighted candles.

An old song from the Biserovi Sisters' repertoire tells of a "tall tree, God's tree," under which the Virgin Mary sits and holds the infant Jesus in her arms.

Not only the preparation of the tree and the fire, but the entire ritual surrounding Christmas Eve is dedicated to the birth of the Young God, the young sun, who comes to give warmth and life. The biblical story of the birth of Christ is adapted to ancient pagan customs.

On Christmas Eve, the last Lenten meal is held, marking the end of the Christmas Lent. Odd number of dishes is served, all of them strictly vegan – boiled wheat, boiled beans, cabbage leaves stuffed with rice, pumpkin pie, boiled dried fruit, garlic, honey and walnuts. To them salt, warmed up brandy and red wine are traditionally added. And of course, the highlight at the table is a round loaf of bread with a coin hidden inside.

Bread was, and still is a very important part of traditional holidays. For Christmas Eve the ritual round loaf of bread, the center of the meal, was decorated with stylized flowers, birds and suns. In some regions of Bulgaria the decoration included the figures of a plough, a ploughman, a shepherd etc. Apart from that loaf, various buns were made to give away to the carol-singers. The group of male carol-singers started their tour of the village in the first hours of the new day. As they stopped at every house to bless the household, they were given ring-shaped buns everywhere. 

After the table is ready, the oldest man blesses it with incense. He also incenses all the rooms in the house. Before the dinner begins, he breaks the ritual bread. The first piece of bread is set aside for the Virgin Mary and later placed in front of the icon.

At midnight the sound of church bells is mixed with the songs of the caroling bands. They went around the homes and pronounced their blessings. Coming from the ancient layers of Bulgaria’s traditional culture, this custom is still performed in many places today, as the human aspiration for peace and harmony, health and well-being is ageless.