BULGARIAN CAROL SINGERS

Bulgarian Christmas carol singing is one of the traditional Bulgarian customs. The time frame designated to carol singing is strictly defined: it starts at midnight and lasts till the sunrise on Christmas Eve. The Christmas carols are performed by groups of young men called “koledari” who are led by an older man called the “stanenik”. They all walk around a neighborhood, which was previously determined, and sing songs along the way. In general these songs wish for the good health and happiness of the family, and call for the acquisition of property and good agricultural production etc.