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 everyone named Karpo....
Name day of Emil, Emilian, Emiliana, Emilia (they also celebrate on November 8, Archangel Michaels Day)....
Name day of Valeri, Valeria....
VARTOLOMEY (St Bartholomew’s Day) - June 11
The feast is called Vartolomey or also Varti-Lomi (in association of storm and hail). That day the feast of the apostles St.Bartholomew and St.Varnava (Barnabas) is celebrated.  Saint Barthol...
ELISSEY feastday  (Liseh’s Day; St.Eliseus) - June 14
The traditional feast of Eliseus (also called Ellisey, Lisseh, Lisso or Lissey) is one of the thunder-maker feasts, alongside with German and Bartholomew. In some parts of Bulgaria it is also connecte...
VIDOVDEN  (Vido’s day) - June 15
That day is the feast of the last one of the hail-men family – sometimes interpreted as a brother, Vido, sometimes as a syster - Vida. Only those who have celebrated the other three brothers are allow...
Name day of Biser, Bissera, Naoum....
St.Nahum from Ohrid
St.Nahum from Ohrid...
ENYOVDEN / Enyo’s Day  (Midsummer Day) -  June 24
Name day of everyone named Yanko, Yana, Yanka. This ancient Bulgarian ritual is considered the turning point in the mythological calendar of the ancient people – a ritual connected to the summer E...
PETROVDEN (ST. PETER S Day)  - June 29
Name day of everyone named Peter, Penka, Kamen, Pencho, Peyo, Pesho, Petrana, Petrana; also Assen, Assya, Apostol, Krum, Chavdar; also Pavel, Pavlin/a, Polya (although they rather celebrate ...