Christmas in Bulgaria
Christmas in Bulgaria is celebrated in a vastly different way from the way it’s done in the Philippines. Sheryl Ann Rivera would know. She relocated to the Balkan nation with her husband Oleg close to two decades ago, and together they are raising their daughter Sofia.
Unlike in the Philippines where the days leading up to Christmas are packed full of parties and reunions with much eating and drinking, in Bulgaria they observe a strict, vegan diet for at least a week before Christmas Day.
“For us, this season holds a solemnity similar to Lent as we fast to spiritually prepare ourselves for the celebration of Christ’s birth,” Rivera, who is Catholic, told Lifestyle.
Their daughter was baptized a Catholic, but she said that celebrating a Pinoy Christmas in Bulgaria poses some challenges “due to the predominance of Eastern Orthodox customs, even though there is a Catholic presence.”
Festive
For one, the cultural and religious traditions differ so they do their best to “embrace” local ways. While she could handily whip up a traditional noche buena feast on Christmas Eve which is reserved for immediate family, they prepare Bulgarian dishes like sarmi, rice and vegetables wrapped in cabbage or grape leaves; peppers stuffed with seasoned rice; tikvanik, a sweet pastry made from phyllo dough and pumpkin; and koledna pitka, a Christmas bread into which is tucked tiny fortunes. She likened it to a fortune cookie.
“Christmas Day feels more festive, and we enjoy dishes with meat, cheese, and treats like panettone. Although I could prepare Filipino foods, I would probably be the only one indulging! It’s also a time for exchanging gifts and inviting extended family or friends to share in the celebration.”
After 19 years in Bulgaria, Rivera has grown to love much about the place she now considers home. She misses Filipino flavors but said she’s come to enjoy Bulgarian cuisine because it’s “not only delicious but generally healthier.”
Still, her concession to the Christmases of her youth are the tree and lights that they put up and decorate. “We usually start decorating in late November rather than earlier.”
Rivera also makes it a point to recount to Sofia what Christmases in the Philippines were like. “Alongside sharing Bible stories, I tell her about how we used to carol and attend midnight Mass. Although Christmas in Bulgaria is similar, it’s a bit more joyful and festive back home.
“Despite the cultural differences, I feel I still have my Filipino Christmas here as the closeness, warmth, and sense of family we cherish in the Philippines are very much alive. In the end, wherever you celebrate, whether the customs, food, or traditions differ, the spirit of Christmas remains universal.”
