In Bulgaria, Christmas is celebrated on December 25th. Carol singers leave early in the morning to go round the houses as they sing songs and call for health, fertility, and prosperity.

Back in time and nowadays, in the region of Vidin, the meals on Christmas Eve are directly served on the straw. And all the dishes are obligatory to be meatless. Setting the so-called table is one of the most important things for the celebration. When a young woman, or a bride, wakes up, she goes for fresh water that is going to be used for cooking the dinner. A young man cuts a 3 year old elm or pear tree, digs a hole and pours chrism in it (a ritual called “Miros” tree). When ready, the tree is placed in the fireplace and when the fire is started (before the table is ready) it must be kept burning till the morning on the next day. That same tree is the one that is called “Badnik”. The ashes are not just thrown away in the wind they are spread over the fields and vineyards, so the soil will be fertile.

Photo: Folklore festival ”Badnik” held annually in Vidin,  https://bnr.bg/vidin/post/100307699/bydnik-vyv-vidin

Caroling is the ritual that only men and boys can take part. On “Ignazhden”, December 20th, a leader and a donkey are chosen (the donkey is the person who is at the back and holds the bag full of presents). The participants (carolers) have their traditional festive clothing, typical for the region, including hats decorated with popcorn and Christmas bunches. They also have their sticks with them on which every hostess can put carol breads. All the way to every home, standing at the front door and invited inside, the carolers sing different Christmas songs as they choose the lyrics, depending on the place and person they sing to. The tradition says that the first song should be for the host and it goes something like this:

Rise, rise my Nine, Nine Gospodine,

Good guests are coming. Good guests - Carolers.

After singing the song, the leader of the group tells his carol blessings by lifting his staff and his free hand up:

Hey company of carolers,

Earth roads we’ve traveled on,

Our cornel staffs we’ve broken,

But in your yard, we came,

To sing old songs, Old carol songs.

As many the stars in the clear sky,

That much the health in this house to be,

As much geranium in the mountains,

That much the health in this house to be,

Say carolers: So be it!

(The Carolers) - So be it (and they pick up their sticks).

Then the hostess gives the carolers pretzels (slip them on their sticks), and beans, nuts, flour. After that, the host gives them money and serves them wine. The carolers have to pass through every house in the village and do the same. After they are finished, they can enjoy the rest of the night celebrating. All the money that they have collected is donated to the church or to the children in need. As for every host that sends away the carolers, he starts preparing the slaughter of the pig.

So be it!