It is well known that many Bulgarians produce their own wine, rakia (homemade brandy), and most of their winter canned foods.
Accomplishing that, takes from early spring to late October. Once the basement is stocked and the winter lays down its white blanket over the gardens and farm lands, Bulgarians begin savoring the results of their farming.

As we mentioned in previous newspaper issues, Bulgarians are very social, family and friends oriented, and the winter is the perfect season for gatherings. Having extra free time from the farm-work, people get together more often in the winter, than during the other seasons. They proudly share the fruits of their hard work: wine, rakia, ham, pickled salads… The peaks of these activities are around some major winter holidays, first of which is Nikulden (Dec 6). It is a festival that honors seas, rivers, and lakes; sailors and fishermen, as well as all people with the names Kolyo, Nikola, Nikolay, and Nikolina. Ribnik - carp wrapped in dough - is the traditional dish on this day.

Ignazhden (Dec 20), Koleda (Christmas), New Year's Eve/Day and more holidays are celebrated at this time of the year. In accordance with the Orthodox Church, Koleda comes after 40 days of fasting avoiding any alcohol and animal products and even the festive dinner on the eve of Koleda (Dec 24) includes no meat, cheese, milk, eggs or animal oils.

Most of the new generation Bulgarians do not practice the 40 days of fasting, but on the Christmas Eve table, the traditional vegetarian foods are present: beans, walnuts, boiled dried fruits… Throughout the evening fortunes are told. We put a small coin in the Christmas bread and the oldest man in the family gives a piece to everyone. The one who gets the piece with the coin will be the luckiest during the forthcoming year. Everyone cracks a walnut open and if it is empty - expect a bad year. Hard and full nut indicates that the person will be in good health. If someone sneezes, it is a sign of a marriage coming this year.

Predictions are also made for the weather in each month of the New Year, the expected crops, each family member's health, and the possibility of marriage for the girls.

It is believed that the way Christmas Eve goes, is the way life during the following year will go. With no work to be done in the fields, everyone's efforts are home centered, to assure Koleda is celebrated in the proper manner.

When the festive mass starts at 12:00 am on December 25, everyone drinks a sip of wine so that the divine blessing will come upon them as their fasting ends. A place at the table is left vacant for the deceased (relatives or other dear friends). The table is not cleared for the night because people believe that the deceased will come for dinner.

The most significant ritual on Christmas is Koleduvane. Its purpose is to wish health, good luck and fertility to the heads of households, to livestock, from land, etc. The Koledari, are those participating in the ritual. They visit the homes of their neighbors singing blessings to people.

The Koledarian songs are happy and festive, and are performed antiphonally. The songs can be divided into several themes: those devoted to the head of the house, those for the women, for small children, for unmarried girls, for soldiers, for the livestock, for the fertility of the fields, and so on. At the end of the performance, the head of the household gives Koledni gevreci (round buns), fruits, walnuts, popcorn and other traditional delicacies to the Koledari.

In today's modern time, Koleda is still a very special family holiday although the tradition is not followed as strictly as in the old times. However one should not be surprised if kids (Survakarcheta) knock on the door after midnight on Christmas with wishes for happiness, love, health and wealth during the coming year, as that would be done by the Koledari in old times.
The Bulgarian greetings at this time are "Vesela Koleda" (Marry Christmas) and "Jesus is born!" The celebration lasts three days, starting on Dec 25, in some regions it merges with the festivities for January 1st - New Year's Day, which is also called Vasilyovden, or "Sourva" day. The first day of the New Year is celebrated by a large number of traditional rituals, most popular of which is the "Sourvakane" - tapping on the backs of other people with a specially decorated twig (Sourvaknitza) for health and good luck. In mythology the twig stands for the power of the good forces.

At this time the family gathers around a table, piled with all kinds of dishes - everything that the family had wished to have throughout the year past.

By Daphne Karcheva-Orris

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