Bulgarian Traditions: Kukeri, Martenitsa, Fire Dancing and Feasts

Through the year

Through the year
When	Tradition
13–14 January	Kukeri and Surva: masked dancers chase away evil spirits
The Sunday before Lent	Sirni Zagovezni: Cheesefare Sunday, the eve of Lent
1 March	Baba Marta: red and white martenitsi for health
3 March	Liberation Day, the national holiday
The weekend before Easter	Lazarovden and Tsvetnitsa, Palm Sunday
Spring, moveable	Easter, the greatest feast of the Orthodox year
24 May	The day of Bulgarian culture and the Slavonic alphabet
3–4 June	Nestinarstvo: fire dancing in Strandzha
24 June	Enyovden: midsummer and the gathering of herbs
6 December	Nikulden: St Nicholas’ Day, with fish, usually carp
20 December	Ignazhden: St Ignatius’ Day
24–25 December	Christmas Eve and Christmas: a meatless supper on Christmas Eve
All year	Name days: celebrating the saint you are named after

Source: Wikipedia: Public holidays in Bulgaria; UNESCO: Nestinarstvo, the panagyr of Saints Constantine and Helena in the village of Bulgari; UNESCO: Surova folk feast in Pernik region; UNESCO: Cultural practices associated to the 1st of March; Wikipedia: Kukeri; Wikipedia: Bulgarian cuisine; Wikipedia: Cheesefare Sunday; Wikipedia: Enyovden^{1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8}

Living heritage

UNESCO lists the Nestinarstvo fire dancing of the village of Bulgari, the Surova winter masquerades of the Pernik region and the cultural practices of 1 March, shared with Moldova, North Macedonia and Romania, as intangible cultural heritage of humanity.^2,3,4

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Bulgarian traditions are on UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list?

UNESCO recognises Nestinarstvo fire dancing in Bulgari, the Surova winter masquerades in the Pernik region, and the cultural practices of 1 March, shared with Moldova, North Macedonia and Romania. They were added to the list in 2009, 2015 and 2017 respectively.

What happens during Kukeri and Surva in Bulgaria?

Kukeri and Surva are Bulgarian winter customs in which masked dancers chase away evil spirits on 13–14 January. The Surova folk feast is held annually in the Pernik region.

What is Baba Marta in Bulgaria?

Baba Marta is observed on 1 March, when people exchange red-and-white martenitsi for health. The cultural practices associated with 1 March were added to UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list in 2017.

When is Sirni Zagovezni in Bulgaria in 2026?

Sirni Zagovezni falls on 22 February in 2026. It is a day of forgiveness and family customs, when people eat the last dairy foods before Lent.

Traditions through the year

Kukeri and Surva

Discover the Kukeri tradition and the Surva masquerade festival in Pernik.

13–14 Jan Annual Surova folk feast in the Pernik region
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Sirni Zagovezni

A Bulgarian day of forgiveness, family customs and the last dairy foods before Lent.

22 Feb Orthodox date in 2026
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Baba Marta

Discover the red-and-white thread tradition of 1 March.

1 March The traditional start of spring
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Liberation Day

Bulgaria marks its liberation and honours those who fought for it every 3 March.

3 March Bulgaria’s national holiday
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Lazarovden and Tsvetnitsa

Discover the Christian feasts and folk customs of Tsvetnitsa and Lazarovden.

5 April 2026 Tsvetnitsa in 2026
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Easter

Discover Bulgaria’s Easter services, red eggs and family traditions.

2 May 2027 Eastern Easter in 2027
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Culture Day, 24 May

A Bulgarian public holiday for the alphabet, education and culture.

24 May Annual date, in the new style
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Nestinarstvo

Learn about Nestinarstvo, the fire-dancing rite of Strandzha.

3–4 June Panagyr feast days in Bulgari
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Enyovden

Discover Bulgaria’s 24 June traditions of herbs, water and midsummer.

24 June Date observed in Bulgaria
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Nikulden

Bulgaria’s St Nicholas Day brings fish, family gatherings and name-day visits.

6 December Date in churches using the Gregorian calendar
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Ignazhden

Meet the first-visitor customs of Bulgaria’s Ignazhden.

20 Dec Orthodox feast day
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Christmas

Discover Bulgarian Christmas Eve customs, food and carolling.

24 Dec Christmas Eve
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Name days

A Bulgarian tradition linking names, feast days and open-door celebrations.

6 May St George’s Day, one of Bulgaria’s most popular name days
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