Christmas (Koleda in Bulgarian) is one of the biggest Christian holidays in Bulgaria. Christmas and New Year festivities begin from Ignazhden, the day of St. Ignatius – December 20 . Many ethnographers think that in ancient pagan times Christmas Eve and Ignazhden coincided, both celebrating God Kolada. The separation of the two holidays came after the Slavs were converted to Christianity. It was from Ignazhden to Christmas Eve that Virgin Mary's labours continued. Till the end of the 19th century, mainly in the villages, people used home-made candles for the church, which were used as charms against ill wishers. On December 23, the night before Christmas Eve, the yeast for the special Christmas bread is prepared. The Christmas tree was an oak tree, meant not just for decoration, but also for ritual burning. Boys and unmarried young men, called koledaris, visited the houses, singing songs for wealth and health for the hosts. They were rewarded with money and food.

Nowadays Christmas is a family time in Bulgaria and everyone usually gathers at the home of the oldest grandparent. A special dinner, consisting of at least twelve dishes is prepared. All of them are without meat and each of them represents a separate month of the year. Tradition has it that if the dishes are more that twelve the year will be fruitful. On Christmas Eve there is a homemade bread in which a coin is placed before it's baked. The oldest person breaks up the bread. The one who gets the piece with the coin in it is believed to be very wealthy in the new year. The Christmas Eve table is not cleared until the following morning, a typical tradition to insure that there will be plenty of food in the coming year. Every family has a Christmas tree in their home; some are decorated with electric lights, some with candles. Just as in many other nations, children write a letter to Santa Claus to tell what they want for Christmas.

MORE Christmas customs – Read in For the Record section at novinite.com

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