Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Bessarabian Bulgarians celebrate the New Year according to old calendar

Photo: Library

The Bessarabian Bulgarians in Taraclia celebrate the New Year on January 14 according to the old Julian calendar. They observe an unusual ritual for Moldova - that of mummer's dances. According to beliefs, mummers are mythical creatures who drive away evil spirits on January 13 with performances of their ritual going from house to house. The ancient rite came to Moldova from Bulgaria. 

On the eve of the New Year in the old style and on January 14th until noon children will go in groups of "survakari" from house to house to perform the "survakane" ritual for health and prosperity, BTA reported.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Former Belene concentration camp in Bulgaria to receive historical memory status

Future generations must know that there were periods when human rights and dignity were worthless. This was emphasized at the annual pilgrimage in memory of the victims of the totalitarian communist regime in the Belene concentration camp by the..

published on 5/31/25 5:54 PM
Rumen Radev

President Rumen Radevon the protest in defense of the lev: I want the people to be heard

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev , who attended the National Assembly of Sheep Breeders at the Peter and Paul Monastery near Lyaskovets, greeted the protesters today in various cities of the country demanding a referendum on the euro and the..

published on 5/31/25 5:49 PM

The protesters in defense of the Bulgarian lev: "The lev is not just a currency"

Thousands of citizens have gathered in the center of Sofia to protest against the introduction of the euro . The demonstration is supported by political parties Vazrazhdane, Velichie, Mech, VMRO and  civic associations. Similar protests in defense of..

published on 5/31/25 3:05 PM