Bulgaria is well-known for its reach Christmas traditions. Family dinner, sitting around the fireplace and carol singing are among the most famous activities around the festive season.

It is believed that the Christmas diner must be over – abundant so that the coming year would be rich and favorable. Traditional Christmas diner contained 12 different dishes which symbolized 12 months of the year. Dishes which contained meat were strictly avoided while nuts, seeds, beans and dry fruits were preferable. On this day women baked ritual loaf of bread. The oldest man in the family burned incense over the table then he broke the loaf and gave a piece to each member of the family. After the diner it was a time for fortune-telling about love, the weather and the harvest. 

Another feature of the festival was the Christmas fire. It was important to support the fire all night long. If the fire died out it signified a bad luck for the family.     

Carol singing mostly performed by boys and men was the third aspect of the festival. Children were granted with walnuts and ring-shaped buns specially backed for the feast. The adult carol singers wore their best Sunday clothe and visited all houses in the neighborhood chanting blessings.