I don’t know if we Bulgarians are the most controversial of peoples, but we sure try to be and eventually everything is submitted to the all-powerful rule of controversy, Christmas as well…  Everyone knows that we are Orthodox Christians, curious fact is that this is since 865 year when Bulgaria became the third Christian state in Europe after Byzantine and Frank empires. The Christianization was made by force and most of the common people secretly preserved their old ways. Unlike other Orthodox peoples, which celebrate Christmas on 7th of January, of course, we do it Catholic style on the 25th of December and we call it Koleda. This is because according to the Christian Roman and Byzantine empires the new-year began on the 25th and this holiday was called Calendae (as the first day of the calendar year). But enough about Christmas, because in Bulgaria Christmas is basically another ordinary night when the family is eating and drinking at home.
When we say Christmas what we really mean is the celebration of the night before Christmas - Бъдни вечер (Badni vecher, Yule-eve*) on 24th of December. Yep, that is when a big yulelog (if you have one) is burning in the fireplace (if you have one) which fortune tells the future. This holiday is made of many pagan traditions passed from generation to generation, which were accidently mixed with some Christian rituals. OK, so what is happening on Badni vecher’s is - after the Christmas tree (alder) is decorated and the yulelog is already burning in the fireplace, the whole house (if you have, else apartment) is censed with incense (tamyan) and four walnuts (this is very sacred tree) are put in the most west, east, south and north places of the house. Also there are 7 (magic number), 9 (triple 3, again magic number) or 12 (months, zodiacs, etc., etc…) veggie dishes, one of which is guess what? Yule-bread! (Питка, Pitka) This bread is made without any animal ingredients, like everything else this evening, and has a hidden nickel in it (the one who gets the nickel will be happy all next year or will go to a dentist). OK, so the protection of the house is done and now is time for the eldest member of the family to divide the bread and to say a prayer. Then everyone must taste all dishes, eat their piece of the Yule-bread and drink red wine. Red wine is a MUST if you are over four years old! This in some weird Bulgarian way is the repeating of the Last Supper, when Jesus feed his students with bread and wine and said this is symbol of his flesh and blood. Also it is very comfortable because the drinking of wine (as a symbol of the Sun) ritual overlaps with the Old-ways traditions according to which on that day was the beginning of the new Solar year and birthday of solar gods – Svarog, Mithra, Osiris, Dionysos (Bacchus) and Zarathushtra.
In modern times, after the fall of the Wall and the increased influence of the Western culture, the idea of Christmas itself is becoming more and more popular in Bulgaria and now after midnight on the 24th of December, like after 00:02 on the 25th, Dyado Mraz (Granddad frost) or Dyado Koleda (Santa) brings gifts to the children… (I personally see this as good addition to Badni vecher’s feast  ). My grandfather thinks that Christmas is good holiday, because good red wine goes best with ham, not beans…
ВЕСЕЛА КОЛЕДА!
HAPPY CHRISTMAS!