Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

On the occasion of Bango Vasil

Roma children perform traditional New Year dances in BNR

5
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 


Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

Gallery

More from category

Student exchange programs connect Veliko Tarnovo University with Bulgarian Sunday schools abroad

Methodological assistance, teacher training, meetings and educational programs in Bulgarian language and culture for students – these are just some of the ways in which the academic community of Veliko Tarnovo University "St. Cyril and Methodius" reaches..

published on 1/16/25 12:45 PM

Over 30 varieties of azaleas in bloom at the Botanic Gardens

The Botanical Garden's Tropical Greenhouse will be open to visitors from 16 to 26 January, every day from 10 am to 4 pm. More than 30 varieties of azaleas, some of which once adorned the Royal Palace, will be in bloom. Blueberries, rhododendrons, ericas..

published on 1/16/25 7:40 AM

The village of Novo Oryahovo lacks medical service, but there is not a single abandoned house

Novo Oryahovo is a village in north-eastern Bulgaria. It is located in a picturesque corner in the municipality of Dolni Chiflik - 2 km from the Black Sea and the nature reserve along the Kamchia River. Due to its important..

published on 1/15/25 7:19 PM