Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

1 January: The Bulgarian Orthodox church honours St. Basil the Great

Photo: Radio Vidin

On 1 January the Bulgarian Orthodox church marks the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ and St. Basil’s Day. January 1 is the day when the memory is honoured of influential theologian St. Basil the Great, who dedicated himself to pious and charitable work. 

Almost 127,000 Bulgarians named Vassil, Vassilia, Vassilena, Vesselin, Vessela etc., celebrate their name-day today. In Bulgarian folklore tradition, the day is called Vassilitsa and Survaki. The ritual of survakane is performed early in the morning as young boys make the rounds of the homes in the town or village, and tap the backs of family and friends with a decorated cornel twig (survachka) with wishes for health and prosperity.



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

Bulgarians want more order and discipline in schools, survey shows

A serious restrictive and even repressive attitude among Bulgarian society on the current issues of school education and upbringing is shown by an independent poll by the sociological agency "Myara". It was conducted between January 29 and 31, 2025..

published on 2/27/25 7:20 PM

Bulgaria has the highest share of low-wage earners in the EU

In 2022, 14.7% of workers in the EU were low-wage earners . By definition, low-wage earners are those who earn two-thirds or less of the average gross hourly wage in the country.  Bulgaria had the highest share of low-wage earners (26.84%). This..

published on 2/27/25 4:57 PM

EC hopes for positive decision on part of payments under Bulgaria's Recovery and Resilience Plan

The European Commission hopes to have a positive decision this year on at least part of the second payment under the Recovery and Resilience Plan in the amount of 653 million euros for Bulgaria . This was stated by the Commission spokesman Maciej..

published on 2/27/25 3:20 PM