Christmas Eve according to the Bulgarian tradition was organized in Rome by the members of the cultural association "Bulgaria". ‎Created more than 2 decades ago to support our compatriots who go to ‎seek livelihood in Italy, today the organization assists them when necessary, and when holidays are set ‎‎– it also organizes celebrations. Such is the case with the Christmas celebration in a Rome-based restaurant, where the team of Radio Bulgaria was invited by the chairman of the Association, Marian Rusinov. Going to the place, we found a dozen Bulgarians in folk costumes, who were doing a final rehearsal for the scene, with which they would present their native holiday traditions. 

Some of our compatriots in Italy perform folk dances in Rome, as part of the Danube dance group. Four men and a dozen women participate in the performances that the Bulgarians create for their gatherings, and also present in the squares in Rome. The costumes for the Association's dance group are handmade, Marian Rusinov tells me with undisguised pride.‎

Every year on their Christmas holiday, they play out the ritual tradition, characteristic of different regions of the country, and this year the emphasis is on the Dobrudja region.‎

"In addition to memories from childhood, we also add elements that we have found in information about traditions on the Internet. About 60 people participate in the celebration, there are also Italian citizens, and a construction crew is coming, which also includes Romanians. We have prepared a table, typical for Christmas Eve, with 12 lean dishes, round bread with a coin" explains Marian Rusinov.‎

The people who gather at the holidays organized by the "Bulgaria" Association in the Eternal City are from different professions, Victor explains to us, sharing that he will work for a few more years in Italy, and when he reaches retirement age he will return in his native Vidin. ‎

Most of the Bulgarian women in Rome take care of elderly people, work in hotels, restaurants, in the field of cleanliness. Among them is 53-year-old Vesvie Yasim from Veliko Tarnovo, whom we met at the Christmas party in the Italian capital. Her work is not easy, but the smile never leaves her face, especially when she talks about her dream – to open her own business with guesthouses in Italy. 

Vesvie is one of the amateur actresses included in the scene with the Christmas tradition - we met her dressed in a costume, with a bunch of flowers stuck in her hair:‎

"I have been living in Italy for 18 years and Marian, who represents our wonderful country Bulgaria, dresses us in Bulgarian costumes every year and makes the best holidays - I admire what he does for us Bulgarians. Not a single holiday related to Bulgaria is missed, and he always organizes things with a smile and great desire", says Vesvie about the chairman of the Association "Bulgaria". "I am from Shumen, then I moved to Veliko Tarnovo and I came here by chance, let's say, to Italy I started working in the hotels as a supervisor, then I was the leader of a group of 4 other workers and we organized the cleaning of 22 apartments for rent, but the Covid-19 pandemic happened and we had to close. Now I clean offices, but I am thinking of starting my own business and I will succeed!" says Vesvie Yasim. ‎

She admits that her path, although difficult, continues in Italy. "Whoever hasn't been abroad, hasn't gone alone, thinks it's a joke. But in order to be abroad, first you have to overcome yourself, then do everything else. This can be done with great desire,"  Vesvie ‎Yasim told Radio Bulgaria.‎