The BG tradition says: The feast starts Dec.24th - the Christmas Eve (or known as Small Christmas). All over Bulgaria koledari (i.e. typically Bulgarian carol singers) go around their neighborhood.
The Koledari wear traditional festive costumes with specially decorated caps. They walk around the town from midnight till morning. On their way they stop in front of the house doors and sing special ritual songs, utter prayers that vary in accordance with the different hosts and houses they visit. In general the songs and prayers have the sense of a ritual blessing for family happiness and rich yield on the farm.
The first song usually starts with the words:
Welcome us! We sing for you dear hosts! We are kind guests visiting, Kind guests, Koledari!
After the songs, the leader of the party who holds in his hands the gifts from the hosts utters a Christmas blessing: Health from God, Merriment from us!.