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.