Comenius Multilateral School Partnership “European Multiguide” 2012 - 2014

1. This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/education_culture/publ/graphics/beneficiaries_all.pdf  Comenius Multilateral School Partnership “European Multiguide” 2012 - 2014 Sredno Obshtoobrazovatelno Uchilishte “Vassil Levski” – Haskovo December 2012 – January 2013

3. Christmasis one of the most honored Christian celebrations in Bulgaria and the most beloved family holiday in winter. In our language the name for Christmas is Koleda – Коледа. In Bulgaria Christmas days begin on 24th December. This is Christmas Eve – Badni vecher – Бъдни вечер. On this day all families gather together. According to the old Bulgarian tradition, a young man or boy in the family has to cut a huge piece of old plumb tree and carry it into the house. That piece of wood is calledBadnik. People put it in the fire to burn all the night.

4. The Christmas Eve table is the place for a great, usually meatless feast. There are an odd number (usually5, 7 or 9 ) lenten dishes. Traditional food includes boiled wheat, boiled beans, grape or cabbage leaves or peppers stuffed with rice, dried fruits, garlic, nuts, honey, onions saved from summer, fresh fruit, wine and rakiya ( Bulgarian drink). The foods represent the things people have produced in the previous year.

5. A home baked soda bread joins the table and it is called pitka – питка. Typically it is round and it contains a silver coin inside. The eldest man or woman in the familyblesses the table with some burning incense and gives out pieces of bread to everyone. The first piece of bread is always for the Mother of the God. The second one is for the house. Who finds the coin is promised a year of good luck – he or she will be the richest person in the upcoming year.

6. Walnuts also are eaten for this same reason. Everyone cracks a walnut, and if the walnut inside is a good one, this person will have a good and healthy year ahead. It is a custom people not to rise from the dinner table. Thus they allow chickens to hatch. It is also a custom not to clean up the table until the following day. It is believed that the souls of dead family members come back to visit on this night. Christmas Eve has to be calm and quiet while waiting for the birth of Christ.

9. At midnight on Christmas Eve a ritual called Koleduvane starts. Young men called koledarivisit houses in the neighbourhood and sing carols – special songs for health, fortune, happiness, love and luck for the hosts and the household.

10. The preparation for the ritual includes the learning of songs and the decoration of costumes. Each caroler carries a stick called gega. The head of the visited family gives the koledari food, wine, money. The youngest, usually unmarried woman in the family gives every koledar a bread called “gevrek” or “kravai”. The koledari ritual takes place from midnight on Christmas Eve till dawn on Christmas.

11. Коledarska pesen / Carolers’ song Stani nine, gospodine, che ti idem dobri gosti, che ti idem dobri gosti, dobri gosti, Koledari! Dine, kolko zvezdi v yasno nebe, Tolkoz zdrave v taz druzhina. Stani nine, gospodine! Кolko zdravets po gorata, Tolkoz zdravev taya kashta! Stani nine, gospodine!

12. Christmas is celebrated on 25th December. The name of Father Christmas in Bulgarian isДядо Коледа ( diado Koleda ) It is time to greet everyone with Merry Christmas. In Bulgarian this isЧестита Коледа! ( Chestita Koleda! ) The family is gathered around the rich,festive lunch or dinner, which is richer than the Christmas Eve food because there are meat dishes. The most typical kind of meat is the pork. Members exchange gifts put under the Christmas tree. Many Bulgarians go to the church to listen to the festive liturgy service.

13. Koleda ( Christmas song ) Kolade lade, Kolade lade. Oi Koledo, moi Koledo! Rodilo se bozi chedo, rodilo se bozi chedo. Kolade lade, Kolade lade. Kravai skacha ot politsa, vri v kotletokarvavitsa, vri v kotletokarvavitsa. Kolade lade, Kolade lade. Kazi babo kato lani, na nas veselo da stane, na nas veselo da stane. Kolade lade, Kolade lade.

15. The last day of the year gathers the family members, relatives and friends to meet the new year together. There is a rich table with numerous meals and drinks. Typical dishes are pork meat, steaks, well-fed cock with spicy rice. In many regions people prepare the kapama – stewed pork, sausages and chicken meat with cabbage and wine.

16. It is a must to cook the typical home banitsa–a layered pastry made with phyllo dough with cheese filling. Cornels buds as “Lucky charms” are put on it. Fortunes are written in advance, wrapped in foil and added in the bakedbanitsa after baking. There are “charms” for happiness, for success, for health and so on. There is also a coin in the pastry – for richness. The head of the family turns the baked banitsa and every person chooses a slice in front of him/her. There is a silver coin in one of the slices. Usually the dessert is baklava – a sweet pastry with walnuts. There are lots of fruits, drinks and sweets too.

17. At midnight people drink champagne and wish Happy new year!, in Bulgarian Честита Нова година! ( Chestita Nova godina! ) Fireworks illuminate the towns and villages. There are many concerts in the main square of the towns. The traditional Bulgarian dance - horo always opens the concert.

19. At dawn on the first of January a very popular and typical Bulgarian custom begins. It is called Survakane. Small kids, called survakari, carry special cornel twigs – survachki decorated with red wool, beans, popcorns, hot peppers, small bells and coins.

20. Kids tap gently the backs of the people at home with their twigs saying wishes (poems) for health, longevity and prosperity. Children also go to their relatives and neighbours and wish them the same. People give the kids money, sweets and fruits.

21. Surva godina ( Survakari song ) Peite, peitehali beli, Padai, padaitsveten snyag. Srebarnaelha zapali Palaviyat severnyak. Zdrave, veselagodina idevihrenoprinas, Inadtsyalatarodina ekvavesel, detskiglas. Surva, surva, survagodina! Da e, da ezdrava garbina. Agne byalo da blee, medna krusha da zree. Surva, surva, survagodina! Da e, da ezdravagarbina. Zlatni da sazhitata, Zdravida sa detsata.

23. January 6th is known as Bogoyavlenie (“Epiphany"), (Krashtenie Gospodne or "Baptism of the Lord") or Yordanovden ("Day of Yordan”). On this day, a wooden cross is thrown by a priest into nearby waters - the sea, river, harbour, swimming pool or lake and young men jump into the cold freezing waters to find it. The swimmer who is the first to reach the cross returns to the priest and is blessed by him. It is believed that the swimmer will be very healthy and happy all the year round after.

24. On Yordanovden people with the name Yordan ( Jordan ) and similar celebrate their name-day. In the town of Kalofer, a traditional horo with drums and bagpipes is played in the icy waters of the Tundzha river before the throwing of the cross. It is the 3rd popular name after Ivan and Georgy in Bulgaria. Only men dance in this horo. The tradition is 150 years old. During the winter months Bulgarian celebrate many other name–days.

25. In the presentation are used photos from www.google.bg and photos made by Mr.Erfandov - the school librarian. Many thanks to the English Club “I know, I can” ( some students from 5A,B, 6A, 7A,B classes) who helped with materials for this presentation.