Welcome to “Bulgaria Today” on Tuesday, December 24. In our festive podcast on Christmas Eve we are to tell you about the strict rituals our ancestors used to follow during holidays in order to earn blessing from the higher powers for the well-being of their family and loved ones.

You will also learn why Christmas Eve is a major family occasion in this country.

We continue our festive podcast with songs about the Mother of God, the Infant Jesus and the tree of God.

Finally, we bring you the song “Chistaya Devo” praising our common Mother. It is a greeting to all Christians around the world on the occasion of the holy feast of the Nativity of Christ!

• 01’59 – "Come down, Dzherman, and dine!" – the lost magic of Christmas Eve

• 09’20 – Christmas Eve, a major family occassion

• 17’18 – Songs about the Mother of God, the infant Jesus and the tree of God

• 24’34 – Chistaya Devo