Bulgaria is extremely diverse when it comes to local rituals and cultural practices. Bulgarian traditions and folklore customs are centuries old! From generation to generation, they preserve our culture and embody our unbreakable spirit as a nation.
Ready to discover the rich cultural heritage of Bulgaria? Catch a glimpse of Bulgarian culture and traditions. Learn about the ancient customs, rituals, and celebrations that have withstood the test of time.
Timeless Bulgarian Traditions
1. Survakarstvo: New Year's Blessings
On top of the list of ancient Bulgarian traditions that still exist is Survakarstvo. The folk custom has long been a crucial part of how Bulgarian families mark the first day of the new year. The participants of this New Year's ritual are called survakari.
On January 1st, the young survakari, children up to 12 years old, visit village houses wielding colorful survachki (taps). Survachki are made from twigs with popcorn, dried fruits, thread, and wool decorations.
The ritual involves tapping the backs of older residents with the survachka while reciting verses that bestow wishes for health and longevity. In return for their blessings, the survakari receive money or food, as tokens of gratitude.
This Bulgarian tradition serves as a heartwarming way for communities to come together. And is also bridging generations through acts of kindness and blessings.
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2. Laduvane
Among the Bulgarian customs and traditions, Laduvane also stands out as a cherished New Year ritual. Unlike Surva, only unmarried young girls are part of this ritual. This collective fortune-telling ceremony is a glimpse into the future that "predicts" who will marry soon.
The Laduvane ritual unfolds over two days, beginning on the day before New Year's. Preparations begin with the girls collecting water from a well in silence. The "silent water" is the most important centerpiece of the ritual.
Each girl prepares a bouquet with great care. Then attaches her ring, earring, or bracelet to it, symbolizing her aspirations for a future spouse. These personal items carry deep significance, representing the girls' dreams and aspirations. Next, the girls place the symbolic bouquets in the silent water container.
Once all bouquets and tokens are in the container, they securely cover it and leave it outside under the night sky. This act of placing their hopes and dreams under the celestial canopy adds an air of enchantment to the Laduvane ritual.
The magic of Laduvane unfolds with the dawn of the new day. The girls gather around the container of silent water. The Bulgarian custom requires a chosen young girl to retrieve the bouquets one by one while singing short songs (ladanka). With each ladanka, the young girl predicts who among the group will marry soon and what kind of groom she will have.
The Laduvane ritual doesn't conclude with the singing of ladanki. Each young girl places her item that was immersed in the silent water under her pillow that night. There is a belief that the person she dreams of during the night will be her future husband.
3. Kukeri: Warding Off Evil Spirits
One of the most remarkable Bulgarian traditions and rituals is Kukeri. An age-old practice for dispelling and driving away evil spirits and demonic forces.
Kukeri are the performers of this ritual. They perform a ceremonial dance, wearing lavish costumes and eerie masks with wooden carvings. The garments are crafted from threads, wool, and various fabric cuttings to create a captivating visual spectacle.
The story behind the Kukeri performance is quite intriguing. The rhythmic movements and haunting masks protect local communities from evil spirits. When the Kukeri dance in their scary attire they make a loud noise with their large bells (chanove). With their appearance and loudness, they ward off demons and malicious entities.
According to the customs, the Kukeri are usually men and boys coming of age. However, the tradition evolved and women are now also welcome to take part in the ritual dances and activities.
The traditional Kukeri dance ritual takes place during national holidays. Kukeri dances are also a highlight of all Bulgarian folklore and ethno festivals. Notable events where you can expect to see Kukeri are the Surva festival in Pernik, the Razlog Festival, and the Dervishi-Varvara festival.
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4. Nestinarstvo: Dancing on Hot Embers
Talking about Bulgarian traditions, we can't miss Nestinarstvo. An ancient awe-inspiring custom featuring fire dancers. During the spectacular show, the participants (nestinari) perform a dynamic folk dance barefoot on hot embers.
The fiery ritual is nothing short of mesmerizing.
Nestivarstvo usually takes place at sundown. That's when the audience can enjoy the show and marvel at the beauty of the glimmering embers. It's fascinating to watch the dancers fearlessly traverse the glowing coals under the sounds of traditional Bulgarian folk music.
Preparation for the show involves senior nestinari. They skillfully arrange the embers for the younger dancers. The older nestinari usually do not perform, as they pave the way for the new generation.
The act of dancing on embers symbolizes courage and a connection to the elements, echoing the resilience of the Bulgarian spirit.
Nestinar dances are a major attraction for locals and tourists. That's why it often takes center stage at large folk festivals, weddings, and village gatherings, highlighting the allure of the ancient Bulgarian custom.
5. The Egg Fight: Bulgarian Easter Tradition
Most people would probably think Bulgarian Easter traditions are quite odd and bizarre. But the truth is, there is a huge fun factor in the local holiday celebrations. The Egg Fight is a cherished Orthodox Easter custom in Bulgaria. In fact, this is one of the prime Bulgarian traditions, still intact to this day.
Before the Easter Egg Fight, Bulgarians boil, paint, and decorate their eggs at home. According to the religious custom, the painting ritual occurs only on Thursday or Saturday before Easter. Another interesting fact is that the first egg is always red. It's called the Red Fighter Egg.
The highlight of the tradition is the friendly competition of fighting with colorful boiled eggs. If you imagine a bunch of people throwing hard eggs at each other, you couldn't be more wrong. Actually, this is how "the fight" works:
Two participants hold their egg fighter in their hands
They bump the tops, then the bottoms of their fighter eggs
The first egg to crack on both sides (top and bottom) loses
The egg that stays intact after the "fight" is a Winner (Boretz)
According to Bulgarian traditions, sometimes there is no Boretz. That's when two people crack their eggs respectively during the same fight. For example, if one egg breaks at the top, and a rival egg breaks at the bottom, there is no winner.
In the attempt to crack each other's eggs, most Easter Egg Fights end in laughter and camaraderie. This odd but fun Bulgarian custom is all about friendly competition. Oh, yeah, and eating the "fallen in battle" eggs.
6. Lazaruvane: Bringing Joy to Every Home
Lazaruvane is a ritual happening on Lazar's Day (Lazarus Saturday). The tradition pertains to young single girls who are ready for marriage (lazarki).
As part of the ritual, early in the morning, the lazarki dress up in Bulgarian nosia. They go to church, where they take willow branches, wrap them in a wreath, and put it on their heads. Then they go from house to house in their village, spreading joy through dances and songs for health and fertility.
Homeowners await the lazarki with anticipation, to bring luck and prosperity to their homes. They offer thank-you gifts of eggs and flour for the girls, who later knead a midnight ritual bread with the collected ingredients.
Before sunset, the lazarki gather by a river to throw the wreaths from their hair into the water. According to the custom, whoever's wreath gets carried away by the stream first, will be the first to marry. There is also another practice, that if a boy catches the wreath from the river, he wants the girl to be his wife.
Lazaruvane is one of the oldest Bulgarian traditions. It underscores the role of young women in preserving cultural customs and ensuring their continuity. According to old folk beliefs, every unmarried girl should take part in the ritual.
A legend goes, that a dragon could steal the ladies who refuse to take part. Another folktale states girls who don't become lazarki will have a curse to never marry.
7. Making Martenitsa: A Token of Luck & Health
Handmaking Martenitsas at home during February, is a popular custom in Bulgaria. Martenitza is a spring token of goodwill, promising luck and good health. The traditional token consists of two red and white threads or yarn twisted together. The red symbolizes health and vitality, while the white represents purity and a fresh start.
Modern versions of Martenitsa may include ornaments, beads, and other colorful decorations. There are different types of Martenitzas. The common ones are bracelets, pins, or small thread dolls - "Pizho" (male) and "Penda" (female).
Following ancient Bulgarian traditions, these are the steps to make a Martenitsa. The twisting process typically involves two participants:
Measure two equally long and equally thick thread strings (one red, one white)
Tie the ends of the two thread strings together
Two people grab each end of the new half-red-half-white thread line
Pull the thread in opposite directions to straighten it
Both people start twisting toward their left side
Twist until the thread can't stay straight anymore
One of the participants grabs the tie in the middle of the thread (with their free hand) and pulls it downwards
Both participants bring the ends of the thread line upwards
The twisting hands meet and the one who holds the tie in one hand should hold both ends of the thread in the other hand
When they let go of the tie at the bottom, the Martenitsa twists by itself
After the traditional Martenitsa base is ready, the makers can add beads, dangles, or other colorful embellishments.
For thousands of years, locals have been making their own Martenitsas. While most people in modern days buy pre-made ones, there are still many Bulgarians who participate in the family-bonding Martenitsa-crafting ritual.
Bulgarians exchange their Martenitsa at the beginning of March. Just in time for the Baba Marta celebrations.
8. Baba Marta: Giving Away Martenitsas to Welcome Spring
All Bulgarian traditions on this list still exist to this day. But they are not as popular among Bulgarians as celebrating Baba Marta. Literally every Bulgarian gifts Martenitsa tokens to their friends and family. The tradition of Martenitsa and the festivities of Baba Marta begin on March 1st.
Baba Marta, or Grandmother March, is a mythical character from Bulgaria's folktales. She is in charge of the unpredictable March weather. According to folklore, she has a quick temper and can bring both warm, sunny days and sudden cold spells. The Bulgarian traditions of wearing Martenitsas is all about appeasing Baba Marta.
On the first day of March, Bulgarians give and receive these tokens as a sign of well-wishing and friendship. The custom is to start tying the Martenitsa around the wrist of your friend, but only do it all the way after they make a wish. The chant during the token exchange is "Happy Baba Marta"!
According to Bulgarian traditions, people wear Martenitsas for a whole month until they see a sign that spring is here:
At the sight of the first stork or swallow, take off a Martenitsa and put it under a rock.
At the sight of a fruit tree blooming, tie a Martenitsa to one of the blooming branches.
At the end of March, throw a Martenitsa into a river for good luck.
Martenitsa bracelets are quite affordable and you can find them in all stores, markets, and street vendors during February and March. So if you plan a vacation to Bulgaria in late winter, you should buy Martenitsa bracelets and give them away to locals. That's a wonderful way to break the ice and make friends by honoring the Bulgarian traditions.
More Ancient Traditions and Festivities in Bulgaria
A few ancient customs in Bulgaria didn't make our list, but still deserve recognition! The special picks we chose for you are rose picking and ritual winemaking. Both of which follow the traditions and folk customs of our Bulgarian ancestors.
Rose Picking & Rose Festival
If there is one thing Bulgaria is known for, that's the rose oil and rose products the country produces. Needless to say, rose-picking has been a part of Bulgarian culture for centuries! People who want to experience local rose traditions should add the Rose Festival to their summer itinerary.
The town of Kazanlak comes alive every year during the local Rose Festival. The annual event has been around for 120 years. It's a vibrant celebration of tradition, culture, and the delicate beauty of the Damask rose. Known as the "Valley of Roses," the picturesque Kazanlak region is world-famous for its fragrant rose oil production.
During the festival, there are numerous Ritual Rozober Rose-Picking events in the nearby villages, where the local rose plantations are. Other Bulgarian traditions and rose rituals visitors can observe closely are Rose Brewing and the intricate process of Rose Oil Distillation.
The celebrations include a grand parade featuring traditional costumes, flower floats, and folklore performances. Some of the festivities' highlights are also the kid's shows and the crowning of the Rose Queen, a symbol of grace and beauty, chosen from among the local young women.
The Kazanlak Rose Festival usually takes place during the first weekend of June, when the Damask roses are in full bloom, filling the air with their sweet, intoxicating scent. It's a true feast for the senses and a window into a world where roses are more than just a flower. They're a symbol of a nation's pride and an integral part of its heritage.
Ritual Winemaking
For wine lovers who want to experience Bulgarian traditions, Bendida Winery near Plovdiv offers an unforgettable experience in summer. Participants travel back in time to take part in an age-old winemaking ritual and produce completely natural and genuine Rubin wine, handpicked and crushed by hand at dawn and under the moonlight.
The ritual revives the winemaking customs of our ancestors, as authentic and unadulterated as can be. Those who take part in the ritual dress in traditional Bulgarian folk attire, with Rhodope bagpipe tunes filling the air. Positivity infuses the grapes and wine, as participants dance, sing, and laugh around the grapes.
The event typically lasts for three days, over the weekend. On Friday, guests settle in at the winery's courtyard, dine under the stars, and prepare for the early morning festivities. Saturday is the day to embrace Bulgarian traditions by dressing in folk attire and heading to the vineyard for sunrise celebrations with music, dancing, and grape harvesting.
Guests enjoy breakfast, continue grape processing, and savor a traditional lamb ceremony. The day culminates with a festive evening. On Sunday, the guests bid farewell after a restful night and a hearty breakfast.
This labor of love yields just one barrel of wine, equal to 200 bottles. It goes by the name "Ritual." Through collective efforts during the event, the ritual wine tradition in Bulgaria lives on.
An Overview of Bulgarian Traditions
Without embracing the cultural significance of our small but beautiful country, you will be just a tourist and not a traveler. Our local customs are centuries old, rooted in folktales, legends, and mystery.
If you have the chance to join national celebrations during your trip, we urge you to attend public festivities and ethno-cultural events. Immersing yourself in the Bulgarian traditions and customs is integral to getting the authentic Bulgaria experience. And you get to tell a great story when you go back home.
Safe travels!
A farewell video by National geographic to fully immerse yourself in the Bulgarian customs and festivities: