SEASON FESTIVITY TOURS - Traditional Bulgarian Customs and Orthodox Holidays

SEASON FESTIVITY TOURS
Traditional Bulgarian Customs and Orthodox Holidays

Winter Festivities

The Bulgarian holidays are very rich in tradition and are a unique blend of the inherited Thracian, Pagan, Slavic, Old Bulgarian and Christian customs. We offer our guests to share with us the excitement and the enchantment of the Winter and Spring traditional festivities.

Christmas and New Year at the foothills of the majestic Pirin Mountain in the town of Melnik at the "Lumparov’s house" Christmas and New Year at the Black Sea coast in Sozopol at the "House with the Sun".

December 23 - January 2
During this period of time you will be involved in all activities for preparing the winter holidays. The major celebration will be focused on Christmas (called according to the Bulgarian tradition "Koleda") and New Year’s Eve but will include also a reconstruct of the traditions for Nikulden (Dec.6) and Ignazhden (Dec.20). Actually the traditional winter festivities were carried out from December 20 to January 6 next year.

Winter in Melnik is always associated with the warmth of the houses, the new wine, and the graphic beauty of the sand pyramids. Actually Melnik is one of the favorite spots for artists. In case you love painting and sketching, please do not forget your sketchbook.

The winter at the sea cost is very unusual and romantic. The sea is sometimes stormy sometimes is calm and nice to walk along the beaches or sit on the cliffs. In both cases the time spent around the winter sea is charming and unforgettable.

For the 10 full days you will be involved in:

- The preparation of the traditional Christmas Eve dinner with 7 or 9 or 11 dishes

- Making Christmas ritual breads and banitsa (a kind of pie)

- Finding budnik - the Christmas fireplace log for foretelling the well being of the family

- Arranging the Christmas table and taking part in all traditional rituals

- Visit the Christmas night and next day service in the church

- Making personal decorated cornel twig (surovachka) for wishing people a Happy
New Year by tapping their backs with the twig

- Welcoming carol-singers

- Celebrating Vasilyov’s day

- Preparation to meet the coming spring (March 1st) by making martenitsi.

The package includes 10 nights and 10 full board with two special Christmas and New Year’s Eve dinners (drinks included). Assistance from an ethnographer.

Spring Festivities

Spring Festivities, Customs and Celebration of Easter at the Black Sea coast in Sozopol at the "House with the Sun" or in Melnik at the Lumparov's house.

The warm spring weather in Sozopol with the fresh sea breeze from the gray-blue sea and the blooming trees and flowers can give you the impression of the Thracian Goddess Mother's blessing.

The Spring in Melnik is breathtakingly beautiful with the greens and the flowers on the sand hills, the magic mixture of colors and fragrances. If you love painting - this is the time to have your palette with you. Walking around the hills is a mere pleasure. Ancient Spring traditions among the beautiful scenery are an unforgettable experience.

The Passionate Week from Great Wednesday to Easter Monday

Our guest will have 6 days to participate in traditional Spring and Easter holiday activities:

- Reconstruction of the traditional celebration of Lazaritsa customs
(Saturday before Palm Sunday)

- Reconstruction of the traditional celebration of Tsvetnitsa customs (Palm Sunday)

- Preparing and baking kozunak - special Easter bread

- Decorating Easter eggs

- Celebrating Velikden, Easter

- Visiting Easter service

- Celebrating St. George’s day with the traditional customs

- Making martenitsi, a spring offering, usually marking the beginning of the
old Bulgarian spring.

You will be facilitated in all activities above by an ethnographer and will have written materials on the different customs. Paints and other necessary materials for making martenitsi and the eggs decoration will be provided.

The package includes:

7 nights and 6 full boards, with a special Easter dinner, all materials for preparing the Easter breads and drinks included, materials.

For a detailed itinerary of the program, please contact us.

SEASON FESTIVITY TOURS

LEARN TO PAINT ICONS

THE ART
OF THE BULGARIAN EMBROIDERY

NINE DAYS IN THREE
DIFFERENT PLACES

Tour operator and Tour agent license number 05272