On Christmas Eve, Bulgarians place a big log in the fireplace to burn throughout the night and symbolizing the continued warmth and nurturing of a supportive family.
Bulgarians do not eat meat until after the birth of Christ, which they mark with the slaughtering of a pig on Christmas day.
One tradition involves baking special twigs in a banitza. Whichever twig a person ends up with determines his luck for the coming year. Another tradition involves baking an old, silver coin into a loaf of bread. The lucky person to get a piece with the coin will be prosperous in the coming year.
Koledari, or Christmas people, go around the villages singing songs and receiving small gifts of food from the people they sing to.
Bulgarians do not eat meat until after the birth of Christ, which they mark with the slaughtering of a pig on Christmas day.
One tradition involves baking special twigs in a banitza. Whichever twig a person ends up with determines his luck for the coming year. Another tradition involves baking an old, silver coin into a loaf of bread. The lucky person to get a piece with the coin will be prosperous in the coming year.
Koledari, or Christmas people, go around the villages singing songs and receiving small gifts of food from the people they sing to.