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

Protest against the adoption of the euro to be held on February 22

The Vazrazhdane parliamentary party is organizing a protest on February 22 in front of the Bulgarian National Bank against Bulgaria's entry into the Eurozone and for preserving the Bulgarian lev. Other parties and civil organizations are expected..

published on 2/18/25 5:10 PM

Ex-PM Boyko Borisov: Not a single Bulgarian soldier will go to Ukraine

No Bulgarian soldier will go to Ukraine. This was stated by GERB leader and ex-premier Boyko Borisov in a video statement on his Facebook page. He pointed out that this was a decision of GERB and the party's parliamentary group from June 2024 and is..

published on 2/18/25 3:32 PM

At the official opening of the 10th International Agricultural Exhibition AGRA in Plovdiv

4% of Bulgaria's GDP is created by the agricultural sector

The agriculture sector in Bulgaria maintains its stability, providing employment to 6% of the population and forming about 4% of the country's GDP. This is shown by current data on the state of the sector, presented by the Minister of Agriculture..

published on 2/18/25 3:14 PM