Bulgaria celebrates a number of holidays throughout the year, but here are some of the most important ones:
- New Year’s Day (January 1st) – This is a national holiday celebrated in Bulgaria like many other countries, with fireworks, parties, and other festivities.
- Bulgarian Orthodox Christmas (January 7th) – While many countries celebrate Christmas on December 25th, in Bulgaria, Christmas is celebrated on January 7th according to the Julian calendar. It is a religious holiday and is marked by church services and family gatherings.
- Baba Marta Day (March 1st) – This is a unique Bulgarian holiday that celebrates the arrival of spring. People exchange and wear red and white tassels called „martenitsi“ for good health and luck.
- Easter (April or May) – As a predominantly Orthodox Christian country, Easter is an important religious holiday celebrated in Bulgaria. It is a time for church services, traditional foods, and family gatherings.
- Labour Day (May 1st) – This holiday celebrates the achievements of the Bulgarian working class, and is marked by parades and speeches.
- Saints Cyril and Methodius Day (May 24th) – This is a national holiday that commemorates the creation of the Cyrillic alphabet by two brothers who were instrumental in spreading Christianity in Bulgaria.
- Bulgarian Independence Day (September 22nd) – This holiday marks Bulgaria’s declaration of independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1908.
- Christmas Eve (December 24th) – This is the day before Christmas Day, and is celebrated with a traditional meal that includes a variety of vegetarian dishes.
- Christmas Day (December 25th) – This is the day when Bulgarians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, and is marked by church services and family gatherings.
- New Year’s Eve (December 31st) – This is a time for parties and festivities as Bulgarians welcome in the new year.
These are just a few of the most important holidays in Bulgaria, but there are many others that are also celebrated throughout the year.