Today’s news piece is the first of a Christmas-themed series!
Every week, we’ll dive into the Christmas traditions specific to Probationet partner countries.
Let’s begin with Bulgarian ones!
Christmas Eve is a very special holiday in Bulgaria connected to the family and it is celebrated on the day before Christmas, on 24 December. The tradition demands all dishes on the table to be lean and in odd numbers. Tinsels, beans, stuffed peppers, pie, dried fruits and other delicacies.
The old tradition says to be prepared a loaf of bread and a coin to be put inside for luck. The bread is broken by the oldest member of the family and after that everyone sits, eats and has fun. This night the table is not served so the house is full of food during the whole year. A large dry log cut by the men in the family burns in the fireplace, which warms and gives comfort and mood enhanced with homemade wine and rakia. On the night before Christmas, a group of carol singers go around people’s homes and sing folk songs for health, and the hosts give them a ring-shaped cake.
On 25 December comes Christmas, which is filled with a lot of children’s laughter and play, and of course, gifts!
General Directorate Execution of Sentences on the initiative of Unit ‘Social activities and educational work’ has announced a competition for inmates in order to participate in the writing of an essay dedicated to Christmas and New Year’s holidays on the topic: ‘The magic of Christmas and a new beginning’. The book ‘Ideas without limits’ and a projection with interviews of popular Bulgarians will be presented at Sofia Prison. Different events are organized in the prisons and all places of deprivation of liberty will do a Christmas workshop for decoration and Christmas cards. They will make a fortune pie and organize a musical program.
The Bulgarian team of PROBATIONET project greets you with the forthcoming bright holidays. We wish you health and success!