Bulgarian Christmas Eve Dinner

Bulgaria's Christmas Eve on 24th Dec is celebrated, for best adherence to tradition, with an odd number of rich vegetarian dishes, which encourages abundance in the coming year, includes grains, vegetables such as stuffed peppers, fruits, and nuts. Walnuts, in particular, are found on the Bulgarian Christmas Eve table. These nuts are cracked in order to predict success or failure for the coming year. Another special aspect of the the Bulgarian Christmas Eve meal is the round loaf of bread, into which a coin is baked. The person who finds the coin will be rewarded with good fortune.

The Christmas Eve dinner table may not be cleared until the next morning to provide sustenance for the ghosts of ancestors who may come back to visit before Christmas morning.

Christmas celebration dinner mostly includes:

Boiled wheat with sugar and walnuts;

Stuffed peppers with rice or beans;

Another famous meal is so called “Sarmi” which is grape or cabbage leaves stuffed with rice;

Walnuts are a must. Some people believe that they predict the fortune which next year holds. After cracking it if the walnut is good the year will be successful;