Text size

Roma begin three days of New Year celebrations

published on 1/13/24 6:35 AM

Photo: BGNES

The Roma New Year celebrations begin tonight and will last for three days. For the Roma people, Vasilitsa, or better known as Bango Vasil (literally "limping Vasil"), is perhaps the most revered family holiday.

Families gather for dinner, the houses are locked and no one is allowed to go outside. On the table are roast chicken, cake, boule bread with a penny hidden in it (to bring wealth to whoever gets the piece with the coin) and sarmi (dolmas) with lucky charms of dogwood buds. At midnight, when the New Year begins, the doors of the house are opened to guests. But first the children have to greet the adults and wish them good health and happiness.

According to legend, Bango Vasil is Saint Basil the Great - he came to the rescue and rebuilt a bridge destroyed by the devil so that the Roma could cross it. He became their saint and patron saint.

Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!

Radio Bulgaria News Bango Vasil celebrations Roma New Year

More from category

President Rumen Radev again calls for a referendum on the introduction of the euro

With 128 votes in favour, the governing majority in Parliament and three independent MPs rejected the president’s veto on the Law on Defence and the Armed Forces. The amendments expand the possibilities for declaring a state of emergency and..

published on 11/19/25 1:00 PM

Bulgaria cannot be used as an excuse for the lack of reforms, says Ambassador Radukov in Skopje

In Skopje, I am hearing more and more often concerns that relations with Bulgaria are being used as a convenient excuse for the lack of will or ability to undertake the necessary reforms. I do not want to believe this argument, said Bulgaria’s..

published on 11/19/25 11:52 AM

Report: TikTok's role in the country is growing, including in manipulating public opinion

The role of the social network TikTok in Bulgaria is growing, including its involvement in disseminating manipulative content. This is stated in a report presented at the European Parliament in Brussels, reported BTA. It was prepared by the..

published on 11/19/25 10:41 AM