Roma children perform traditional New Year dances in BNR

published on 1/12/24 5:12 PM

Photo: Ani Petrova

On 14 January, the Roma community in Bulgaria celebrated its most important holiday - Vasilovden or Bango Vasil. To share the traditions of Roma folklore during the celebration of the Roma New Year, as the holiday is also known, children from the school in the village of Graf Ignatievo, Plovdiv region, were guests of BNR.

In front of Studio 1 of Bulgarian National Radio they presented a dance of different ethnic groups and "Gypsy Romance"...

.... told the story of how the Roma came to be and why they honour Bango Vasil (Limping Vasil). Legend has it that the devil destroyed the bridge the Roma were crossing, but St Basil rebuilt it and saved the Roma from drowning...

...tapped the journalists on the back with a decorated cornel branch to wish them good luck, health and prosperity...

... treated all the guests to a traditional banitsa with lucky charms.

The children were welcomed by the Director General of the BNR, Milen Mitev. This visit was organised by the Amalipe Centre for Interethnic Dialogue and Tolerance, which has been working in the field of educational integration for over 20 years.

Text: Desislava Semkovska

Photos: Ani Petrova

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