Text size

Bulgarians mark the feast of Saint Varvara also known as Women's Christmas

published on 12/4/24 6:05 AM

Icon to Saint Varvara

Photo: Archive

Today, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church honors the holy great martyr Varvara - a maiden from a noble family, beheaded for her Christian faith at the beginning of the 4th century.

The day is also called Women's Christmas. This name comes from a custom in the central part of Western Bulgaria, according to which disguised maidens and younger girls with bags slung over their shoulders go around the houses and sing songs of blessings with wishes for health and fertility, and the owners give them gifts.

The tradition resembles the custom of the carol singers (koledari), which, however, is performed only by boys and young men.

Bulgarians in the past used to say that on Saint Varvara's Day the day and night find each other, i.e. they become equal.

Read also:

The December series of holidays starts with the days of Saints Barbara, Sava and Nicholas

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

Radio Bulgaria History and religion Bulgarian Orthodox Church Saint Varvara

More from category

We pay homage to Saint Andrew considered the patron saint of the ancient Bulgarians

On November 30, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church honors the memory of St. Apostle Andrew . In Bulgaria the saint is known as Saint Andrey and the folk holiday as Andreevden . Saint Andrew’s Day gives the start to the series of winter holidays..

published on 11/30/24 6:05 AM

The head of the statue of Tyche has been discovered in the Episcopal Basilica in Plovdiv

The head of the statue of Tyche, the goddess of Philippopolis, has been discovered in the Episcopal Basilica in Plovdiv, said the head of the excavations Lyubomir Merdzhanov. According to him, this is an extremely rare artefact that has been awaited..

published on 11/28/24 5:54 PM

Signing the Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine, 27 November 1919

The elegy for the Western Outlands fades out as a requiem

105 years ago, on November 27, 1919, a treaty was signed in the Parisian suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine, officially ending Bulgaria's participation in World War I (1914-1918). Historians define the document as "another national..

published on 11/27/24 7:45 AM