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Roma community in Bulgaria celebrates Roma New Year on January 14

Photo: BGNES

На Васильовден ромите честват своята Нова година
На 14 януари ромската общност в България празнува своя най-значим празник Васильовден или Банго Васил - „Куцият Васил“. Празникът е известен като „Ромската нова година“ и се чества от всички, независимо дали са християни, мюсюлмани или от друга религия. В различните краища на България на 14 януари празникът се отбелязва чрез сурвакане или чрез превъплъщаване на главата на семейството в ролята на Банго Васил, който хвърля в дома жито и ориз. Всичко това се прави с особена тържественост, защото се вярва, че носи плодородие, щастие и късмет. Заради противоепидемичните мерки здравните власти препоръчват сурувакането да е само в семейна среда, без да се обикаля по къщите.
On St. Basil's Day, the Roma celebrate their New Year 

On January 14, the Roma community in Bulgaria celebrates its most important holiday, St. Basil's Day or Bango Vasil - "Lame Vasil". The holiday is known as the "Roma New Year" and is celebrated by all, whether Christians, Muslims or any other religion. In different parts of Bulgaria on January 14 the holiday is celebrated by survakane or by incarnating the head of the family in the role of Bango Vasil, who throws wheat and rice at home. All this is done with special solemnity, because it is believed to bring fertility, happiness and luck. Due to the anti-epidemic measures, the health authorities recommend that suruvakane be only in a family environment, without going around the houses.



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