BULGARIAN CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS CAME TO LIFE IN FRONT OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND COURSE STUDENTS
11 december 2025
On the eve of the Christmas and New Year holidays, the Language Centre of Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" turned into a space of cultural communication and new knowledge. Foreigners from the preparatory language and specialised training course, together with students under the Erasmus+ programme, participated in a cultural and educational lecture dedicated to the topic of Bulgarian Christmas traditions and customs. The event was organised and conducted by the Department of Foreign Language Training and Postgraduate Qualification.
Assoc. Prof. Dimitar Marinov, PhD and Senior Lecturer Lachezar Popov presented the richness of Bulgarian Christmas rituals, drawing attention to the traditions associated with Christmas Eve and Christmas. The participants' interest was particularly strong in the stories about the kneading of ritual bread, the symbolism of Lenten dishes and carolling as one of the most beloved Bulgarian rituals. The lecturers also revealed the meaning of the individual ritual actions that turned the festive cycle into a bearer of spirituality, hope and good wishes.
The lecture ended with a short film that allowed the students to see up close the beauty and details of Bulgarian festive traditions. The impressions were very positive, and the students shared a desire to participate in the next initiatives from the university's cultural calendar.
During the event, international students under the Erasmus+ programme received certificates for the excellent results achieved in the 30-hour course in conversational Bulgarian - recognition for their work and active commitment to studying the language and culture of Bulgaria.
