Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Carol singers in Bulgaria's Yambоl not only sing blessings, but also dance the buenek

Photo: Daniela Kostova, BNR correspondent in Yambol

In Yambol, a large Christmas carolling festival is traditionally organized on December 25, in which dozens of caroling groups (koledari) sing and dance.

Only in Yambol the carollers not only sing and bless, but also dance.
The Yambol Christmas buenek dance was born more than a century ago in the oldest district of the town, Kargon. At that time, there were cavalry troops in the Yambol garrison. The caroling boys liked their clothes and begin to imitate them, says ethnographer Dinka Angelova:
"The Yambol carollers, while they were going from house to house on the evening of Christmas Eve before Christmas, began to stamp their feet - firstly to warm themselves and secondly so that the young maidens could hear that their chosen ones would visit their house."

The spurred boots, the military breeches and the saber carried by the leader of the carollers, the exuberant Christmas dancing and carolling can be seen and heard on today's festive day in Yambol.




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

Martenitsas or Rhodope baynitsas – a symbol of hope for the good things to come

Martenitsas are one of the symbols of Bulgaria – regarded as the harbinger of spring and the end of darkness. Every year, on 1 March, Bulgarians, wherever they may be in the world, give friends and family the red-and-white tassels, as a token of..

published on 3/1/24 7:05 AM

Kichka Savova's songs "come to life" in a virtual national tour

February 22 marks the 90th anniversary of the birth of Kichka Savova - one of the most significant singers from Bulgaria's Thrace folklore region. All who knew her during her lifetime keep in their hearts the memory of a talented, truly good, bright and..

published on 2/22/24 6:35 AM

Tran will host winter masquerade festival

For the fourth year in a row, the town of Tran in Western Bulgaria will host a winter festival of masquerade games. The beginning will be set on February 3 from 12:00 to 14:00 in the central town square.  Four survakari groups from Zemen, Trun and the..

published on 2/3/24 5:35 AM