Text size

Roma begin three days of New Year celebrations

published on 1/13/24 6:35 AM

Photo: BGNES

The Roma New Year celebrations begin tonight and will last for three days. For the Roma people, Vasilitsa, or better known as Bango Vasil (literally "limping Vasil"), is perhaps the most revered family holiday.

Families gather for dinner, the houses are locked and no one is allowed to go outside. On the table are roast chicken, cake, boule bread with a penny hidden in it (to bring wealth to whoever gets the piece with the coin) and sarmi (dolmas) with lucky charms of dogwood buds. At midnight, when the New Year begins, the doors of the house are opened to guests. But first the children have to greet the adults and wish them good health and happiness.

According to legend, Bango Vasil is Saint Basil the Great - he came to the rescue and rebuilt a bridge destroyed by the devil so that the Roma could cross it. He became their saint and patron saint.

Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!

Radio Bulgaria News Bango Vasil celebrations Roma New Year

More from category

Traffic blocked on Tsarigradsko Shose in Sofia amid two neighbourhood protests

Traffic on Tsarigradsko Shose Boulevard in Sofia is blocked by two separate protests, by residents of the Gorublyane and Druzhba 2 neighbourhoods. Residents of Druzhba 2 are protesting against planned “ongoing repairs” to the heating system by..

published on 9/22/25 6:06 PM

Bulgaria Marks 117 years of independence with nationwide celebrations

Bulgaria marked 117 years since the declaration of its independence on Sunday, with celebrations taking place across the country. The former capital, Veliko Tarnovo, was at the centre of the commemorations. In Plovdiv, the anniversary was..

published on 9/22/25 5:38 PM

Speaker of Parliament: Only united can we build a prosperous country

The Speaker of the National Assembly, Natalia Kiselova, took part in the solemn celebration of the 117th anniversary of Bulgaria’s declaration of independence in Veliko Tarnovo. Veliko Tarnovo is the focal point of this year's celebrations of..

published on 9/22/25 12:53 PM