Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 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

Scientists support schools with lessons on healthy lifestyle in urban environment

What is the noise level of an airplane engine or a hand drill, a normal conversation, the movement of a car at a speed of 60 km/h, in a disco, at a rock concert and which values ​​are dangerous for people's health and the animals? The answers to..

published on 10/4/24 7:55 AM
Ivan Vazov National Theatre in Sofia.

Rain and strong winds towards the end of the week

On Friday, lows will be between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius , 13°C in Sofia. Maximum temperatures will be between 26 and 31°C, 28° in the capital. During the day it will be sunny in central and eastern Bulgaria. In the west, there will be clouds and after..

published on 10/3/24 7:05 PM

Bulgaria faces referral to the ECJ for failing to comply with three procedures

The European Commission has formally warned Bulgaria, Estonia and Ireland to properly implement EU laws against racism and xenophobia, reports BNR correspondent Angelina Piskova. In its letter of formal notice, the European Commission says the three..

published on 10/3/24 4:59 PM