Mummers (Kukeri).

The ‘Kukeri’ games take place in February and March. With their strange clothes made of fur, a mixture of national costumes and animal masks with horrifying faces, ringing bells, the games and customs with their lively dancing reflect the eternal fight between Light and Darkness, Good and Evil. On the last Sunday before Lent, masked kukeri perform ritualistic processional dances to ward off evil spirits from the houses. This tradition is traced back to Dionysius, the God of wine.

Baba Marta.

Baba Marta is a typical Bulgarian tradition celebrated on the first of March. The day is called Baba Marta (or Grandma Marta in English). On that day you give a special present called “martenitsa” - a small white and red piece of thread to wear for health, luck and happiness. When someone gives you a martenitsa you should wear it either around your neck, wrist or pinned on your shirt until you see a stork returned from its winter habitat in southern climes. After that you can hang it on a blossoming tree for fertility.

St. Lazarus` Day.

‘Lazarovden’ - Lazarus’ Day - Old people believe that Lazarus is the master of woods and bushes and helps people clear them and turn them into tillable land. This is an old spring ritual where young girls sing and adorn themselves with flowers.

Nestinarstvo.

‘Nestinarstvo’ (fire dancing) is one of the most mysterious phenomena in the Bulgarian history and folklore. In this pagan ritual marking the arrival of summer fire dancers in deep trance walk barefoot on hot coals under the sounds of bagpipes and drums, carrying an icon of St. Konstantin.

Sourvakari.

Sourvakari - boys going from house to house wishing people a Happy New Year, good harvest and health. This is a custom of well wishing by tapping people on the back with a “sourvachka” (decorated dogwood twigs) on Christmas and New Year’s Day. The hosts treat the children to fruits, peanuts, bagels and other food.

Christmas

Eve. Christmas Eve, Christmas and Easter are the most reverently observed Christian holidays in Bulgaria. Christmas Eve traditionally brings the entire family together. Meals on that special evening must be vegetarian and odd in number. The house is ritually censed before dinner. A special Christmas loaf is baked with a coin in it, believed to bring health and good luck. The table is not cleared for the night; this is done so the dead might come and have a feast in the early hours, thus bringing health to the living.

Easter.

Easter is one of the major springtime holidays and it lasts for three days. On Holy Thursday the eggs are painted; the first egg to be painted is always red in color. That egg is put before the icon in the house. During the night of the first day of Easter everyone goes to the special church service. Afterwards churchgoers “fight” with their painted eggs, each tapping his/her egg against the eggs of others. It is believed that the person whose egg does not crack will enjoy good health all through the year.