Christmas traditions in Bulgaria are connected mainly with the Orthodox Church, but some of them are kept by evangelicals as well, for example, the traditional meals on Christmas Eve, and Christmas carolers.

The Orthodox Church keeps a 40-day “fast” before Christmas, the final day being December 24, when all the meals served that night are without animal products. A special round bread (pita) is made for Christmas Eve. A coin (for luck) is put somewhere in the bread: whoever draws it will be lucky the whole year.

There is normally either 7, 9 or 12 different dishes on the table (according to the days of the week, the months of pregnancy or the months of the year). The most common dishes are stuffed grape or cabbage leaves with rice (sarmi), stuffed peppers with rice or beans, boiled wheat, white bean stew, compote, and pumpkin banitsa, a spiral filled pastry. On the table there is usually also pickles, honey, garlic, walnuts, dried and fresh fruit. The more the dishes, the richer will be the coming year.

The whole family sits around the table and the grandfather or the father blesses the round bread, breaks it and gives it to each family member. After midnight carolers come around, usually young men. They receive special ring-shaped bread (kolaks), walnuts, dried fruit and coins.

There is a Christmas tree, which is decorated according to tradition on the Thursday before Christmas and stays up until January 7. The presents are put under the Christmas tree and members of the family exchange them on Christmas Eve. In families with young children, sometimes Father Christmas comes to bring the presents.