Bulgaria: Roma Communities Embark on Three-Day New Year Celebrations
The Roma New Year festivities kick off, spanning three days of cultural revelry
The Roma New Year is celebrated today. The holiday is also called Vasilitsa, Vasilyovden, or Bango Vasil/Vasiliy / the Limping Vasil.
The celebration of Vasilitsa is associated with several Roma legends. In some of them, Bango Vasiliy is an advocate and defender of the Roma. He rebuilt the bridge destroyed by the devil, which the Roma cross. In other legends, Bango Vasiliy is a limping shepherd who saves a drowning Roma child or shelters a gypsy fleeing from his enemies.
According to another legend, St. Vasiliy saved a gypsy family from drowning in the sea. The deep waters were about to engulf the Roma, but the white-haired saint sent them a flock of geese. The Roma climbed on them and reached the opposite shore unharmed. Since then, they have honored their savior on January 14 and named the holiday Vasilitsa in his honor.
Bango Vasil is a family holiday and must be celebrated with poultry - goose or rooster. In all Roma family groups, the dinner on January 13-14 plays an extremely important role and is filled with rich symbolism. On the table there is sarmi, banitsa, bread, wine, rakija. The table is incensed and blessed, everyone asks forgiveness by kissing hands.
All the houses where Bango Vasil is celebrated remain locked until midnight on January 13, so that luck does not escape. Only after the New Year do the Roma start welcoming guests, hoping that the first guest in their home will be a good person to bring them good luck.
Vasilyovden and the New Year come at midnight. From this moment the survakane begins.
Prime Minister Kiril Petkov congratulated the Roma community on today's holiday
Today is one of the most important days for the Roma community - Bango Vasil. On this day, I want to wish health, prosperity, and success to all Roma. This was written by Prime Minister Kiril Petkov on his Facebook profile, where he congratulated the Roma community on today's holiday.
"Let us work together, as we have over the centuries, for the prosperity of Bulgaria. We have stated that we will work for change. In order to achieve this change, it is important that all Bulgarian citizens, including the Roma community, support us and give our best. I use the occasion to declare that we will work in the interest of all, regardless of their ethnicity and religion, so that Bulgaria can take a worthy place among developed and democratic countries in Europe and the world," the Prime Minister wrote.
/Darik News, BTA
We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!
Over the next 24 hours, expect cloudy skies with rainfall across the eastern half of the country, where precipitation may be intense in some areas. Meanwhile, the western half will see clouds clearing during the day, becoming mostly sunny
In response to the recent deaths of two newborns due to whooping cough, the Ministry of Health in Bulgaria has implemented measures to curb the spread of the disease
Amidst growing discontent among taxi operators across Bulgaria, drivers in major cities like Burgas, Varna, and now Plovdiv are demanding a substantial hike in fares to cope with rising operational costs
Two infants from Kyustendil have tragically lost their lives after contracting whooping cough
Sofia's Lunar Festival of Lights is back, illuminating the city with more than 20 captivating light installations across its most iconic landmarks.
Overnight, rainfall across the country will temporarily cease, with some areas experiencing breaks in the clouds
UN Happiness Report: Bulgaria's Astonishing Leap in Rankings
Bulgaria: 3 Regions With Lowest Life Expectancy - EU Report 2022