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

Nayden Prahov, Director of the Centre for Underwater Archaeology

UNESCO expected to approve Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Sozopol as a regional underwater archaeology centre

The Ministry of Culture is expecting UNESCO to approve, by the end of 2025, the application of the Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Sozopol as a regional centre for underwater archaeology in the Black Sea region. The centre will be located..

published on 5/28/25 8:43 AM

Rain showers and slightly rising temperatures

Most of the country will see sunshine before noon on Wednesday. In the afternoon, cumulus clouds will form in many areas, bringing rain. There will be moderate and occasionally strong north-westerly winds. Maximum temperatures will range from 19°C to..

published on 5/27/25 7:05 PM
The new chairman of the parliamentary group of DPS-DPS, Hayri Sadakov

DPS-DPS: There is no unification with DPS-New Beginning

"The unilateral decision of Dzhevdet Chakarov to leave the chairmanship of DPS-DPS is a pitiful personal capitulation to Delyan Peevski (leader of DPS - New Beginning). Such actions are in sharp contrast to the moral and democratic principles on which..

published on 5/27/25 6:06 PM