The forgotten meaning of caroling traditions revealed by singer Daniel Spasov

Every holiday has its own flavour, its own 'clothes' and its own tunes. Christmas is no different. "Little is known about traditional Bulgarian carols and their purpose, little is said, and even the wrong things are said. But the most important thing is to preserve these songs," says Daniel Spasov in an interview with Radio Bulgaria. As well as being a popular performer of folk songs and traditional hymns, he has dedicated his life to researching Bulgarian folklore in its most authentic form. He notes with concern that Bulgaria's Christmas folk musical heritage is fading and being forgotten by new generations.

"We don't know what it was like and how the songs sounded 200 or even 100 years ago, when they didn't have today's easy-to-use recording equipment, but it is important to present the folk heritage as it has come down to us," says the musicologist, describing himself as someone who has had the incredible opportunity to interact with living bearers of the tradition.

Daniel Spasov admits that he learned a lot about Bulgarian folk songs from older people who remembered how their parents and grandparents used to sing them. The sources would sing the songs they remembered to Spasov and he would memorise them and write them down. 

"Today we only know folklore as song and dance on stage. These are the musical forms we are familiar with, but folklore is much more than that! It is a vast system, something very different, very deep and primordial, and you need a very consistent approach to study it," the famous performer reminds us, and continues:

"These songs - the Koledari Christmas songs - were part of the festive ritual and were never simply performed. Each of them had its own message, its own practical purpose and meaning - things that are not known at all today. 

Some of these beautiful songs have come down to us through stage performances, or they have been harmonised by Bulgarian composers, or they are part of a dance. This has nothing to do with the traditional way of life or the folk ritual through which knowledge was once passed on. The true meaning of the Christmas custom lies in the fact that the boy is initiated into a new status - he becomes a man - through these Christmas songs. The young men would gather before the Christmas holidays, before the carol singing on 24th and 25th December, to learn these songs. In this way they were initiated into the tradition and passed on this knowledge".

Daniel Spasov spoke with admiration of the old folk singers he had met across the country, where singing was "God's gift". They sang in tune and captivatingly, even without knowing how to read music. They learned the songs from their grandmothers, and so the song was passed down from generation to generation - the true human heritage. 

"Folk song is one of the wonders of Bulgaria and an intangible cultural heritage that will soon be lost. We are surrounded by foreign music everywhere, but the traditional Bulgarian Christmas carol is nowhere to be found," the musician said.

"Years ago, folk singer Milen Ivanov and I did some research and discovered songs from the oldest layer of Christmas tradition, once recorded by Vasil Stoin in his 1928 collection From Timok to Vita. The Christmas carol is indeed ancient and difficult to fully understand, but it can be translated into a more modern language. Milen and I did just that with some of these songs. We also did the same with the Mystery of Bulgarian Voices choir.

Most of the men who took part in the carol singing groups had no particular vocal gifts, but the songs were not difficult to perform. It was more important to remember the words and the message of the carol:

As a man close to Bulgarian caroling folklore, Daniel Spasov also sent his Christmas greetings:

"I would quote one of the verses of our old carols, which are very beautiful: 'As many stars as there are in the sky, may there be health in this house! That is my wish too - to be healthy; everything else comes gradually, if a person is firm in his aspirations and goals, if he is kind. And that is very important - the presence of kindness. Everything else, as the Bible says, 'will be added to us'.