On the first day of January, the Christian Orthodox church commemorates St. Basil the Great, patron saint of charity and good deeds. A prominent Christian philosopher and thinker, he is the author of many theological works, including a liturgy bearing his name, performed at Sunday service during Lent and on the day of St. Basil. 
Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte will take part in a divine liturgy today at the St. Alexander Nevski cathedral in Sofia, after which he will perform a solemn church service for the New Year.

In folklore tradition, there is one enduring ritual performed on the day of St. Basil or Vassilyovden, called Surva, which is still practiced in our day. For this ritual a survachka is used – intertwined cornel twigs, a symbol of health and endurance. The twigs are decorated using woolen threads of different colours, red apples, popcorn, dried fruit etc., and are then used to tap friends, relatives and neighbours on the back with wishes for health, happiness and prosperity. Masquerade games with groups of masked men or kukeri are organized in many parts of Bulgaria for banishing evil. 

There are 137,000 Bulgarians who celebrate their name day today – all people called Vassil, Vassilka, Vassilena, Vesselin, Vesselina, Vessela.