Christmas is the most beloved holiday in Bulgaria, celebrated on December 25th. Traditions include decorating Christmas trees with lights and ornaments, having a meatless dinner with 7, 9 or 11 dishes on Christmas Eve with family, and lighting a Yule log that burns through the night, symbolizing the birth of Jesus. From midnight to dawn on Christmas Eve, young men called "koleduvane" sing Christmas songs door-to-door and receive ritual bread from hosts.

2. Christmas
is the most beloved
holiday in Bulgaria.

3. In Bulgarian language
Christmas is Koleda
(in Cyrillic alphabet – Коледа)
or Rozhdestvo Hristovo
(The birth of Christ)

4. Christmas tree is one of the most popular traditions associated
with the celebration of Christmas and decorating an evergreen
conifer. Before Christmas, the tree is cut, brings home and
decorated with colored lights, ornaments and candy.

5. Christmas Eve is one of the
most important family holidays.
People meet together around a
dinner table.

6. Christmas Eve dinner
Tradition dictates that there are
only meatless meals on the
table. They have to be 7, 9 or 11.
Most often these are
vegetables, fruits,
beans, stuffed peppers
with beans or rice,
cooked dried fruits, nuts.

7. Christmas Eve dinner
On the table there is necessarily a ritual bread.
The table is not cleaned up all night.

8. Christmas Eve
At the fireplaces people put a big log that
burns all night. It is believed that the light
and warmth of the Yule log symbolizes the
birth of the new sun and the appearance of
the Savior - Jesus Christ.

9. Christmas Eve
If the Yule log burn, the family can
expect better being during next year.

10. Christmas Eve
The night until 24:00 is quiet and
peaceful. People expect the birth of
Christ.

11. Christmas Eve
At midnight begins the custom
koleduvane. Koledars are single
men and younger guys. They
have a leader who is older and is
not a bachelor. Koleduvane time
is strictly defined by the tradition
- from midnight to dawn on
Christmas. Koledars go around
homes and sing Christmas
songs with wishes for health,
happiness, rich harvest, and
hosts give them a ritual bread.

12. Christmas
It is time for gifts.

13. Christmas
In Bulgaria, the gifts brought by the good old
man Grandfather Christmas ( Grangfather
Koleda).
In Cyrillic alphabet it is Дядо Коледа.