Easter. The Thirsday or the Saturday before Easter we paint boiled eggs in various colours. The first egg is always painted pure red and it is kept in front of a icon. On Easter Day children exchange them and hit eggs one in another. The egg that doesn't break in the end is the strongest, so his owner will be healthy the whole year.

Christmas. In December we decorate our homes and put a Christmas tree. On Christmas Eve there must be 7, 9 or 11 vegetarian dishes. A mandatory one is the flat cake. It must have a coin in it. Also there are some smaller ones, called kolacheta. Some possible dishes on Christmas Eve are Sarmi, Salads, Baked beans, Peppers, Pickles, fruit, vegetables and nuts. On Christmas Day we prepare meat dishes - the usual one is pork. The night after Christmas Day we exchange presents and wish good luck to our relatives and friends. An old tradition which can't be seen today is the visit of the Koledari. These are young boys who sing Christmas songs and wish luck, health and long life. People give them rings made of baked dough.

Lazarovden. On Lazarovden young girls used to sing songs to people and they give them back eggs which they're going to paint the week before Easter.

Baba Marta. On Baba Marta's Day we exchange Martenitzas. They are made of twisted red and white lines. We wear them until we see a stork.

Sirni Zagovezni. It's a celebration in early spring but it's not on the same date each year. It depends on which date Easter is. Young people ask elder ones to forgive them. In some parts of Bulgaria old people make wooden arrows, fire big flames, jump over them, then fire the arrows and throw them high in the air. This is believed to bring health.

Ignazhden. This holiday is on 20 December. If the first visitor is a good person, the next year will be good and the family will be healthy.

New year's day. Some people celebrate at home and others go outside and make small bombs. Though many are injured, every year the number of the bomb throwers increase.

Trifon Zarezan. It's on 14th of February. Adults celebrate by trimming the vines. Later in the day, they drink wine. Young people celebrate St Valentine's day.

Gergjovden (St George's day). It's on 6th May. We eat lamb dishes. It's also the day of the Bulgarian army.

Nikulden (St Nikola's day). It's on 6th December. We eat fish dishes to honour St Nikola. He was a fisherman and he saved his friends when they were out in the sea in a boat that had cracked, byputting a big fish over the hole.

Kukeri. Kukeri are men who wear strange costumes made of animals' fur, big bells and other materials. Each kuker makes his own costume frightening and unique. They walk around the villages and sing to scare away bad spirits.

St Kiril and Metodii's day. It's on 24th May. It's the day of Bulgarian literature, alphabet, culture and schools. Kiril and Metodii created the Slavic alphabet.