Bulgaria Public Holidays

Bulgaria Public Holidays

Searching for the national holidays in Bulgaria? All public holidays in Bulgaria are treated like Sundays. This means that most of the Bulgaria employees have a day off and all schools are closed on these office holidays. If you are planning a trip to Bulgaria and want to know what the national and regional holidays are, check the details in the tables below.

 

Bulgaria, a country rich in history and traditions, celebrates a range of public holidays that reflect its cultural heritage, national pride, and religious significance. Public holidays in Bulgaria are deeply rooted in both Orthodox Christian traditions and important historical events that have shaped the nation’s identity.

National Public Holidays

New Year’s Day (January 1)

New Year’s Day is a global celebration marking the beginning of the Gregorian calendar year. In Bulgaria, it is a day for family gatherings, feasting, and celebrating the arrival of the new year. Traditionally, Bulgarians welcome the new year with fireworks and festive meals, where a dish called “banitsa” (a pastry with fortune slips) is often served.

• Traditions and Customs: Many Bulgarians attend parties and gatherings on New Year’s Eve. The first day of the year is dedicated to spending time with family, sharing a meal, and giving blessings for a prosperous year ahead.

Liberation Day (March 3)

Liberation Day is a national holiday celebrating Bulgaria’s liberation from Ottoman rule after nearly five centuries of domination. This day marks the signing of the Treaty of San Stefano in 1878, which granted Bulgaria autonomy. It is one of the most important and patriotic holidays in the country.

• Observances: The day is marked by parades, flag-raising ceremonies, and speeches by political leaders. Bulgarians honor those who fought for the country’s freedom by laying wreaths at monuments, especially the Shipka Monument, which commemorates a key battle during the Russo-Turkish War.

Labor Day (May 1)

Labor Day, or International Workers’ Day, is celebrated in Bulgaria, as it is in many other countries, to honor the contributions of workers and labor unions. It has been an official public holiday since the socialist era and is still widely observed today.

• Traditions: While Labor Day was once celebrated with large parades during the communist period, it is now a quieter holiday. People typically enjoy a day off, spending time with family and friends, and organizing picnics or outdoor activities.

Saint George’s Day and the Bulgarian Army Day (May 6)

Saint George’s Day (Gergiovden) is a dual holiday in Bulgaria, celebrating both the Christian feast day of Saint George and the day dedicated to the Bulgarian army. Saint George is the patron saint of farmers, shepherds, and warriors, making this holiday significant both religiously and militarily.

• Religious Observances: As a religious holiday, Bulgarians attend church services, and many people named Georgi or Gergana (derived from George) celebrate their name day. Lamb is traditionally prepared as the main dish, symbolizing prosperity and fertility.
• Military Celebrations: As the Bulgarian Army Day, it is marked by military parades, especially in the capital Sofia. The President of Bulgaria and top military officials attend the events to honor the Bulgarian armed forces.

Saints Cyril and Methodius Day (May 24)

This public holiday celebrates Saints Cyril and Methodius, the creators of the Glagolitic alphabet, which later evolved into the Cyrillic script. The holiday honors their contribution to the cultural and literary development of the Slavic peoples. It is also celebrated as the Day of Bulgarian Education and Culture and the Slavic Script.

• Cultural Celebrations: On May 24, schools and universities hold special events, processions, and performances to celebrate the legacy of Cyril and Methodius. It is also a day when students, teachers, and academics are recognized for their contributions to education.

Unification Day (September 6)

Unification Day commemorates the unification of Eastern Rumelia (an autonomous province within the Ottoman Empire) with the Principality of Bulgaria in 1885. This event was a significant step toward Bulgaria’s independence and full territorial integrity.

• Traditions: The day is marked by nationalistic pride, with flag-raising ceremonies, speeches, and celebrations in Plovdiv, the city where the unification was proclaimed. The holiday is a reminder of Bulgaria’s fight for self-determination.

Independence Day (September 22)

Independence Day celebrates Bulgaria’s declaration of full independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1908. Unlike Liberation Day, which marks the country’s autonomy, Independence Day is a celebration of Bulgaria’s full sovereignty and recognition by the international community.

• Celebrations: The day is marked by official ceremonies, concerts, and events across the country. Veliko Tarnovo, where the declaration was made, is the focal point for festivities, including reenactments of the historical event.

Religious Holidays

Orthodox Easter (Variable Date)

Easter is the most important religious holiday in Bulgaria and is celebrated according to the Eastern Orthodox Christian calendar, often a week or more after Western Christian Easter. The celebration of Christ’s resurrection is a deeply spiritual event for Orthodox Bulgarians.

• Holy Week Traditions: The week leading up to Easter is filled with religious observances, including services on Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. On Holy Thursday, families dye eggs, usually in red to symbolize Christ’s blood.
• Easter Sunday: On Easter Sunday, Bulgarians exchange colored eggs and greet each other with “Hristos Voskrese” (Christ is Risen), to which the response is “Voistina Voskrese” (Indeed, He is Risen). A traditional lamb meal is served, and egg-cracking contests are a popular tradition.

Orthodox Christmas (December 25)

While Bulgaria follows the Eastern Orthodox calendar, it celebrates Christmas on December 25, aligning with Western Christian practices, unlike some other Orthodox countries. Christmas in Bulgaria is a blend of religious observance and family traditions.

• Christmas Eve: Christmas celebrations begin on the evening of December 24 with a traditional vegetarian meal consisting of an odd number of dishes. After dinner, it is customary to leave food on the table overnight as a gesture of hospitality for any wandering souls.
• Christmas Day: Christmas Day itself is a time for family gatherings and feasting, with pork being a common dish. Many Bulgarians attend midnight mass on Christmas Eve to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Unique Bulgarian Traditions

Baba Marta Day (March 1)

Baba Marta Day is a unique Bulgarian holiday that celebrates the coming of spring. On this day, Bulgarians exchange “martenitsi,” red and white woven bracelets or ornaments, to wish each other good health and happiness.

• Symbolism: The martenitsa is a symbol of health, fertility, and spring. People wear the martenitsi until they see a blossoming tree or a stork, then they tie it to a branch, making a wish for prosperity and good fortune.

Trifon Zarezan (February 1/14)

Trifon Zarezan is a traditional Bulgarian holiday dedicated to vine growers and wine production. It is celebrated either on February 1 (modern date) or February 14 (Julian calendar date) and is often considered the Bulgarian equivalent of Valentine’s Day.

• Celebrations: Vine growers prune their vines, symbolically blessing them for a good harvest, and drink wine in celebration. It is a festive day with communal gatherings, folk dances, and, of course, plenty of wine tasting.

Enyovden (June 24)

Enyovden, or Midsummer Day, is a traditional Bulgarian holiday associated with healing, health, and the summer solstice. It is believed that on this day, herbs have their most potent healing powers, and they are gathered at sunrise.

• Traditions: Young women gather flowers and herbs to make wreaths, which are then used in rituals to predict marriage and prosperity. Jumping over fires is also part of the traditional celebrations, symbolizing purification and protection.

Regional and Cultural Observances

Rose Festival (First weekend of June)

The Rose Festival is a colorful event celebrated in the Rose Valley of Bulgaria, particularly in the town of Kazanlak. Bulgaria is famous for its production of rose oil, a key ingredient in perfumes, and the festival celebrates the country’s long history of rose cultivation.

• Activities: The festival includes a rose-picking ritual, a parade with folk music and dances, and the crowning of a Rose Queen. It is a major tourist attraction and a showcase of Bulgarian culture and traditions.

Kukeri Festival (Late January or Early February)

The Kukeri Festival is a centuries-old tradition where men dress in elaborate costumes and masks to scare away evil spirits and bring good fortune for the coming year. The festival is celebrated in different towns, particularly in the Pirin and Rhodope Mountains.

• Traditions: The Kukeri participants, wearing large bells and animal skins, perform ritualistic dances. The festival is a blend of pagan traditions and Orthodox beliefs and is one of Bulgaria’s most visually striking celebrations.