Christmas Eve in Bulgaria (24/12)

Christmas Eve (or, as it is called in Bulgarian, «Bydny evening», «Malaya Kolyada»), which is celebrated on December 24, — is one of the most established family holidays in the national holiday calendar of Bulgarians. This is a kind of holiday on the eve of the holiday: Christmas Eve is entirely dedicated to preparations for the big holiday — Christmas.

Preparations apply to both men and women. Men tend to gather in groups, cut the pig to the next day's festive table, and fresh it. At this time, women bake ritual bread and prepare Lenten dishes for Christmas Eve. And the owner of the house prepares «bydnik» («bozhik») — thick (usually oak) log for the festive hearth. This «bydnik» represents the «Young God», who will be reborn this night.

When the owner enters the house with a log, he always asks: «Do you praise the Young God?», to which the immediate answer follows: «We praise, praise, welcome!». In the past, «bydnik» was even watered with myrrh oil and wrapped in white linen. The introduction of this symbol field into the house represents an increase in the harvest and the addition of livestock in the coming year. In the evening, when the hearth (fireplace) is lit, «bydnik» is placed in the middle so that it burns all night.

The dishes that are placed on the table this evening are very interesting. Honorary place is occupied by ritual bread — «bozhichnik», which is involved in «silent water» (it is brought in the morning by girls from the well, but they should not talk to anyone). This is a large round ritual bread, decorated on top with figures symbolizing haystacks, livestock, a house, a plow, so that later, when it is broken, everyone gets part of all this good. Caravans are baked separately and given to carolers.

The owner of the house prepares an odd number of lean dishes for the table (Photo: Nikolay Dimitrov - ecobo, licensed from Shutterstock.com)

The owner of the house prepares an odd number of Lenten dishes for the table. These are usually red bell peppers filled with mature beans or rice, lean cabbage rolls, dried fruit compote (plums, pears and apples), beans or lentils, fresh fruits and nuts. A plate of honey, heads of garlic and onions are always placed on the table. Particularly homely housewives do not miss the opportunity to put «tikvenik» — layered sweet pie filled with pumpkin on the table. In general, the more dishes there are on the table, the better — is needed for the year to degenerate into glory.

Dinner begins with words on the same topic. After prayer, the owner of the house raises ritual bread and, before breaking it, says: «Let all — bread, grapes, and corn be born in the new year. Let the barn be full of cattle. Our Lord, come to us and have dinner with us».

The first piece of ritual bread is placed in front of the home icon, part of the bread is used to feed livestock, and the rest is distributed among family members. For some time now, a coin has also been placed in bread. Whoever gets it will be lucky in everything next year. After dinner, everyone is already waiting for the carolers.

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