Traditions & NameDays

As early as 7000 years B.C., 3000 years before the Egyptians, traders from this land, now known as Bulgaria, had crossed up and down the Mediterranean. This long and winding history gave a source of not only great national pride but also an inspiration for a new national spirit. Much has perished through all these millennia, but even more has remained - a rich spiritual world which will shower you with the colours, rhythms and melodious songs of living Bulgarian folklore, the unfading beauty of Bulgarian arts and crafts, the gaiety and vivacity of Bulgarian festivals and customs, the piquant taste of Bulgarian cuisine and the delicate fragrance of Bulgarian wines.

Plovdiv region and the city, villages and towns therein, with its remnants of the Byzantine, Roman and Ottoman civilizations, count among their wealth an unusually diverse culture, parts of which have remained unchanged for centuries. In this section of Plovdiv Guide, we offer you a trip through the land which has been so richly endowed by God with elegant beauty and invite you to discover its traditions, customs and rituals.
Nameday of Svoboda...
DANIEL, Holy Prophet, and the Three Holy Youths Ananias, Azarias, and Misael - December 17
Name day of everyone named Danail, Daniel, Daniela.In Christian legends, St. Daniel was put in the pit where the lion, but instead of tearing him to pieces, the lion licked him with his tongue. Th...
ST. MODESTOS Day - December 18
That feastday is more popular in the far southwest and southeast regions of Bulgaria. According to the folklore traditions, the women are supposed to give out votively baked round breads which will ke...
IGNAZHDEN (St. Ignatius, the God-Bearer of Antioch) - December 20
Name day of everyone named Ignat (from the Latin, the name means ‘fire’), Ognyan, Ognyana.This feastday marks the beginning of the folk New Year. On the evening before, the mistress of the house p...
ST. ANASTASIA  - December 22
Name day of everyone named Anastasia, Asya, Natasha.St. Anastasia was a Roman lady of noble descent. Her father was an opulent and noble pagan; but her mother, who was a Christian, caused her to b...
BADNI VECHER (CHRISTMAS EVE) - December 24
Name day for everyone named Evgeni, Evgenia, Bisser, Bissera, Bistra, Bozhin, Bozhana.According to Bulgarian tradition, the Christmas celebrations start on December 24th, called “Badni Vecher” (me...
CHRISTMAS DAY - December 25
Name day for: Hristo, Hristina, Christina, Kolio, Bojin, Radostin, Radomir, Mladen.Ritual dinner: brawn, roasted pork, freshly baked bread, meat pastry, milk pastry, roasted liver, dried meat with...
David, Yosif (BG for Joseph), nameday - December 26
Name day of David and Yosif (BG for Joseph). Saint Joseph's Day is marked in some branches of Christianity in honor of Saint Joseph, spouse of Mary and foster-father of Jesus.It is a ...
STEFANOVDEN (St. Stephen or Stefan’s Day) - December 27
Name day of Stefan, Stefanka (Stephen's name means "crown”), Stoil, Stoyo, Stoyka, Stoycho, Stoimen, Stoichko, Stoyan, Stoyanka, Stanka, Tanya, Tanyo, Tsonko/a, Tsanko/a, Stanimir/a, St...
MRASNI DNI / Poganni dni (i.e. “Dirty Days”)  - December 25–January 6
In some parts of the country they are also called “Karakondjo days” (Goblin Days). The folk myth tells the story that during these days the earth is visited by evil spirits – vampires, goblins and bug...