Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Old New Year is celebrated on January 13

Photo: archive

The Old New Year or the Orthodox New Year is marked on January 13, because of the differences between the Gregorian and the Julian calendar. The day marks the start of the New Year by the Julian calendar. Orthodox Communities that refuse to accept the new style calendar celebrate the Old New Year on the night of January 14. According to the believers who follow the old style calendar, this date (Old New Year) does not break the Nativity Fast. This is also the time when mummers festivals,(masquerade games aimed at banishing evil forces) take place across the country.

Between January 13 and 15 the Bulgarian Roma celebrate their new year. The day, known as Vasilyovden or Bango Vasil, is associated with several Roma legends. One of the legends has it that Bango Vasil is an advocate and defender of the Roma.

On January 13 all family members gather for a festive meal. The festive table includes banitsa (cheese pie), baklava (layered pastry desert made of filo, walnuts and sugar syrup), sarmi (stuffed cabbage rolls), poultry with rice or sour cabbage, etc.




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Warm weather is back

On Wednesday, lows will be between 5 and 10°C, with Sofia around 7°C. The sky will be mostly sunny, with some clouds in the eastern areas before midday. Light to moderate winds will blow from the south-east. Maximum temperatures will be between 19 and..

published on 4/15/25 7:05 PM

DPS-DPS party to decide whether to continue supporting the government

The operational leadership of DPS-DPS party met to decide whether to continue its support for the government. This is happening a day before the discussion of the second vote of no confidence in the "Zhelyazkov" cabinet on the topic of corruption...

published on 4/15/25 5:45 PM

Housing prices in Bulgaria have increased 2-3 times in 10 years

Over the past 10 years, housing prices in Sofia have tripled, and in large cities more than doubled. This is according to data from one of the largest brokerage companies on the Bulgarian market.  "If in 2015 in Sofia you could buy a home..

published on 4/15/25 5:03 PM