St. Stephen's Day

On December 27th we celebrate St. Stephen's Day. It is the third day of Christmas and the last holiday of the year. According to folk beliefs, St. Stephen's Day closes the cycle of the past year to open the way for the coming new one. St. Stephen's Day is known as a day of reckoning. The family gathers around a common table with meat dishes. Traditionally young families visit their parents, godparents, or their closest friend

From the time of the Apostle Paul, everyone calls St. Stephen the first martyr because he is one of the first victims of the Christian faith.

Traditional Food

During the last holiday of the year, the whole family gathers around the table once again. The owner of the house gets up early in the morning to prepare the traditional meat dishes for St. Stephen's Day - pork with sauerkrautDuring the last holiday of the year, the whole family gathers around the table once again. The owner of the house gets up early in the morning to prepare the traditional meat dishes for St. Stephen's Day - pork with sauerkraut or meat cabbage rolls. The table also includes freshly baked ritual bread and banitsa. In some parts of Bulgaria, freshly slaughtered chicken is cooked to make the new year strong and rich.

Tradition

Traditionally, the customs that characterize the so-called Dirty Days must be observed from St. Stephen's Day to St. John's Day. During these days, women should not wash, sweep or wash their hair. Weddings, baptisms, and funerals are also prohibited. This is the period during which people must guard against evil forces and not go outside in the dark, especially at night.

St. Stephen's Day is also connected with the custom of "ladvune", during which unmarried girls gather to perform the characteristic ritual practices that predict when and with which bachelor they will marry. All unmarried brides knit flowers, to which they tie a ring or other personal item, along with which they are immersed in a basin full of still water, after which they cover it with a red veil. When it dawns, a girl dressed in a bridal costume, and while the others sing ritual songs, guesses which girl will marry to witch guy.

Name Days

On St. Stephen's Day Name Day is celebrated by all of those with the name: Stefan, Stefka, Stefania, Stefana, Stefi, Fanny, Ventsislav, Ventsislava, Stamen, Stamena, Stanimira, Stanimir, Zapryan, Stoil, Stoilka, Stancho, Stanka, Stoyan, Stoyanka, and their derivatives.