Traditions & NameDays

As early as 7000 years B.C., 3000 years before the Egyptians, traders from this land, now known as Bulgaria, had crossed up and down the Mediterranean. This long and winding history gave a source of not only great national pride but also an inspiration for a new national spirit. Much has perished through all these millennia, but even more has remained - a rich spiritual world which will shower you with the colours, rhythms and melodious songs of living Bulgarian folklore, the unfading beauty of Bulgarian arts and crafts, the gaiety and vivacity of Bulgarian festivals and customs, the piquant taste of Bulgarian cuisine and the delicate fragrance of Bulgarian wines.

Plovdiv region and the city, villages and towns therein, with its remnants of the Byzantine, Roman and Ottoman civilizations, count among their wealth an unusually diverse culture, parts of which have remained unchanged for centuries. In this section of Plovdiv Guide, we offer you a trip through the land which has been so richly endowed by God with elegant beauty and invite you to discover its traditions, customs and rituals.
VASSILYOVDEN/VASSILEVDEN (St. Vasilij os St. Basil, the Great) - January 1
Name day of everyone named Vassil, Vassilka, Vassilena, Vesselina, Vesselin, Vessela, Vessie, Veska, Vulko (the name"Vassiliy" has the meaning of "regal" in Greek).On January ...
SYLVESTROVDEN (St. Sylvester Day) - January 2
Name day of everyone named Sylvia, Sylester, Goran, Goritsa(“silva” means ‘forest’ in Latin, while “gora” means the same in BG – both associated with strength...
January 4 -  Name day of Tikhomir (meaning “silent”). Silence is a prelude to revelation and peacefulness  ("Tikhon" means "a happy person")....
Name day of everyone named Krustyo, Krustana. That day (also called “Vodokrust”), according to the traditional beliefs, the “Dirty Days” are chased away. The priest sanctifies and purifies the wat...
BOGOYAVLENIE / YORDANOVDEN (Epiphany, also Theophany) - January 6
Name day of everyone named Yordan/ka (named after the holy river of Jordan), Yonko/a, Daniel/a, Bozhan/a, Bozhil, Boyan/a, Bogdan/a and Bozhidar/a(both meaning "God's gift"), Bogolyub/...
IVANOVDEN  (St. John’s Day) - January 7th
Name day of everyone named Ivan, Vanyo, Vanya, Yoan/Ioan, Yoanna/Ioanna, Yonko/Yonka, Yoto, Ivaylo, Ivo, Ivona, Kaloyan, Jan/Jean, and Janna (whose names all have the basic meaning of "God's...
BABINDEN (OLD MIDWIVES' DAY) - January 8
The legend has it that the Egyptian king ordered the old women, who were maternity nurses, to kill all newborn Jewish boys. The old women did not submit to that order because they were afraid of God. ...
ST.TATIANA - January 12
Name day of everyone named Tatiana or Tanya (coming from Latin with the meaning "the one who arranges"). The Holy Virgin Martyr Tatiana of Rome was born into an illustrious Roman family,...
YUZHNITSI - VERIZHNITSI FEASTDAY - January 16
That Feast Day is the first one of the group “Antonovden & Atanassovden” (in the period Jan.16-18) and acts as preparation to the next two larger holidays. That day is also known under the names o...
ANTONOVDEN  (St. Anthony’s Day) - January 17
Name day of everyone named Anton (meaning "priceless” in Latin), Antonia, Antoanneta, Antoan, Andon, Doncho, Donka, Donna, Donny, Donyo, Tonyo, Tony. People celebrate this day and are fo...