A nation with a rich history, Bulgaria is often described as lying at the crossroads and bridging the gap between the Eastern and the Western world. The native country of Bulgaria has from time to time witnessed a number of ancient civilizations primarily of Greeks, Romans and Thracians who have indelibly left behind their mark on every aspect of the Bulgarian culture. Easter in Bulgaria is observed with great religious fervor and is better known as 'Velikden' meaning 'the faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ'. Just like other festivities, Easter celebrations in Bulgaria are a variant of Orthodox Easter traditions followed through ages.
According to Bulgarian Easter traditions, eggs are colored on Holy Thursday after the Divine Liturgy. The eggs are cracked after the midnight service and during the next few days one egg is cracked on the wall of the church and eaten after the fast. This ritual of cracking the eggs takes place before the Easter lunch. On Good Friday, every family buys a new pottery dish. While before the actual day of Easter, each Christian family in Bulgaria would send presents to their Turkish friends containing a loaf of bread and 10-15 red eggs. The Turks thereby feel honored by these gifts. A typical Bulgarian Easter remains incomplete without traditional hot Bulgarian pastries or banitsa's.
Some of the popular Bulgarian Easter recipes are 'palachinki', a type of pancake; baklava, Lamb drob sarma and wine kebap, which are prepared on the Easter Sunday and feasted by the whole family. Wide festive activities are held in Bulgaria on the occasion of Easter. The orthodox Paschal greeting, "Christ is Risen!" is exchanged with a heat felt answer "Indeed He is Risen". Thus, Easter celebrations in Bulgaria are observed with great enthusiasm and fervor.
Christmas Carnivals offers you insights on Easter in Bulgaria.
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