|
Hi, Reader!
May in Bulgaria feels generous at first glance. Known in old Slavic as the “green” or “flowering” month; everything is green, in bloom, and moving fast – the kind of spring that doesn’t unfold slowly, but arrives in full.
Make sure to check the May events page from time to time - I update whenever new events worth knowing about come up.
|
|
|
Traditional Bulgarian holidays in May
01.05 – Erminday (Snake Day) / Labour Day
- May begins with something older than the modern calendar. In folk belief, this is when the “king of the snakes” emerges, and snakes themselves are not treated simply as danger. They sit on a boundary – between protection and harm, life and death, the living household and the ancestors. In many traditions, the snake is a guardian of the home and land, tied to fertility and continuity. It can harm, but it can also heal.
06.05 – St. George’s Day (Gergyovden)
- One of the most important days in the Bulgarian calendar. Kurban (ritual sacrifice) is prepared either as a gift – an offering of gratitude – or as a due, marking a promise fulfilled after survival or healing. The practice itself predates Christianity, even if it now sits under St. George’s name. Around this time, you’ll also see the “Peperuda” ritual, performed to call for rain during dry springs.
12.05 – German (Rain Ritual)
- This is one of the more unusual customs. A small clay figure – called German – is made to represent drought or hail. It is then symbolically mourned and buried like a person. The act is meant to “bury” the destructive weather itself, whether that’s lack of rain or too much of it.
21.05 – Spasovden (Ascension Day)
- Associated with St. Spas, a figure closely tied to harvest and late spring rains. One of the rituals here is “going to rosén” – connected to a specific medicinal plant believed to have protective or healing qualities.
24.05 – Day of Bulgarian Alphabet, Education and Culture
- This is the most stable point in the month. It marks the work of Cyril and Methodius and the creation of the Glagolitic script, later leading to Cyrillic. Unlike the weather-focused traditions earlier in May, this is a civic and cultural celebration – schools, parades, and a rare moment of clarity in an otherwise unpredictable month.
|
|
|
Useful resources to plan your trip to Bulgaria:
- Flights: I usually compare prices on Kiwi, Skyscanner, and Omio - they often show different deals for the same routes.
- Accommodation: For apartments and hotels, Booking, Vrbo, and Agoda cover pretty much every budget and city in Bulgaria.
- Tours & activities: If you don’t want to book on the spot, GetYourGuide and Viator are the easiest options. Also check out Traventuria and use 10% OFF with my promo code "KMB9"
- Transfers: For airport pickups and long-distance transfers, Welcome Pickups save time and negotiation.
- Car rental: I compare prices on DiscoverCars and LocalRent - especially useful outside Sofia.
- Mobile internet: For eSIMs, Saily is simple and cheaper than roaming.
- Travel insurance: I usually check HeyMondo (5% discount available) or SafetyWing, depending on trip length.
|
|
|
PS 1: In Sofia? Subscribe to Sofia Expats Newsletter, where Maria shares weekly Sofia-based events.
|
Sofia Expats
A weekly newsletter for expats in Sofia, Bulgaria
Your not boring dose of events, activities and Bulgarian culture explained – for English speakers. Every Monday. |
PS 2: Which event or ritual would you love to see? Hit reply and let me know!
Cheers,
Stef
🎒 Kiss My Backpack
Druzhba 1, bl. 80., vh. B, Sofia, 1180
Unsubscribe · Preferences
|
|
|
