Bulgarians still hang at least one new toy from their Christmas trees every year in the belief that it will bring them luck and health.
But to begin with, Bulgarians decorated the trees with apples, walnuts, popcorn and home-made paper garlands in different colours. Later, imported sets of glass toys made their way into the country. The Christmas tree became indispensable in Bulgaria after the liberation of the country in 1878, when a process of Europeanization of Christmas and New Year rituals began in the country.
European-style balls were being organized, Christmas cards sent out, and of course, there were presents for the children. Another element of the Christmas and New Year magic were the “toys of fire” in the sky, as the new-sprung fireworks were then called.
Find out how and when the first Christmas tree appeared in this country HERE.
Editor: Dessislava Semkovska
On September 13 and 14 th the Orthodox Church celebrates the Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross, which is one of the greatest Christian holidays, celebrated with special solemnity. In Bulgaria it is widely known as..
On September 8, when the Bulgarian Orthodox Church celebrates the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Nativity of the Holy Theotokos), we take a look at the beautiful valley of Gabrovnitsa River and the Monastery of the Holy Theotokos, better..
Bulgaria is celebrating 145 years of the Shipka Peak epopee - the heroic six-day epic battle in which the native defenders proved that freedom is not a gift, but was won with the blood and sacrifice of thousands of Bulgarians. The Balkan peak of Saint..
Partly Cloudy
Mostly Cloudy