On December 9, 2023, we had the pleasure of organizing a special pre-Christmas event under the theme “Christmas is Coming!”, a wonderful way to bid farewell to 2023. The gathering was hosted by “Bulgarian Folk Dances Cambridge” and brought together four folklore ensembles from Cambridge and Bury – Folk Fitness “Balkan Dance” from Cambridge, Folk Fitness “Priyateli” (Friends) from Bury, the children’s folklore group “Hortse” from the Bulgarian Sunday School “Vasil Levski,” and the Bulgarian Orthodox Community in Cambridge.
The event began with an inspiring opening by our special guest, Father Dobromir, who shared a short history of the Koledari tradition and the celebration of Christmas in Bulgarian culture and Orthodox Christianity. Koledari carolers filled the hall with authentic Bulgarian Christmas songs and a blessing for prosperity, bringing warmth and comfort to all attendees. The children’s group “Hortse” made their debut on stage and charmed the audience with their very first performance.
The folklore ensembles from Cambridge and Bury, along with our friends Yoshi, Julian, and Spiros – true admirers of Bulgarian culture – taught everyone their favorite Bulgarian horo dances, creating a joyful and shared atmosphere.
The event was enriched by Bulgarian author Clary Kostova-Balcer, who introduced her new humorous book "Excuse Me! I’m English!" The poet from Cambridge, Hristina Tokusheva, told us about the connection between Asparukh’s singing horses and Bulgarian horo dances, and then recited her poem “Horo Se Vie Prevaiva...” (The Horo Winds and Bends), written especially for our first gathering earlier this year.
The talented Ivelina Popova showcased her handmade bracelets, which became a hit among attendees, while the youngest participants colored Christmas cards with Bulgarian motifs and received holiday treats from Santa Claus.
One of the most exciting moments was the contest for the best Christmas stuffed cabbage rolls (sarmi), which put the taste buds of the audience jury to the test, as they had to judge while blindfolded. The winners, Petya Choleva and Filip Balabanov, promised to share their recipes with us so that we can all enjoy their culinary creations.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined this wonderful pre-Christmas gathering and filled the hall with Bulgarian songs, rhythms, colorful folk costumes, kukeri, drums, and a huge dose of positive energy! The five hours of the gathering flew by in dance, smiles, and hearts beating as one. We are delighted that together we created these treasured moments and shared the spirit of Christmas and Bulgarian traditions.
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!