Bulgaria’s festive menus are a celebration of culinary diversity, perfectly tailored to delight both vegetarians and meat enthusiasts. Traditionally on Christmas Eve, the table is filled only with vegetarian dishes, in accordance with Orthodox canon. Moreover, the number of dishes on the table must be odd, often seven, nine, or eleven, usually including dishes like bean soup and stuffed vine leaves, each rich in flavour and tradition.

However, come midnight, the table transforms into a meat-lovers paradise with Mussaka, Kapama (Stew), cabbage leaves stuffed with rice and minced meat, roasted pork knuckles and legs of lamb, along with all sorts of grilled delicacies from the BBQ. Especially, if you go out into one of Bansko’s traditional Mehanas you can even treat yourself and your loved ones to a whole roasted pig or lamb. 

Particularly on New Year’s Eve, it’s custom to eat Banitsa with fortunes written inside. On its own, Banitsa is a delicious savoury pastry layered with cheese and eggs but on New Year’s Eve Bulgarians put fortunes, sometimes in the form of small dogwood twigs in every piece. Once you find yours, you need to check with the host about it, as he has a drawing and a legend of what each twig symbolises. Fortunes include a new house, a child, a family, love, travel, money, a new job, and generally nice things. 

Overall, the Bulgarian festive menu is a blend of vegetarian and meat-based dishes that ensures every palate is catered to, making Bulgarian holiday feasts a true gastronomic mosaic.