Bulgaria Celebrates the Day of Saint Nicholas

On 6 December, Bulgarians mark the feast of St Nicholas (St Nicholas the Wonderworker of Myra). He is one of the most revered saints in Bulgaria and throughout the Christian world, and is considered the patron saint of the seas, sailors and fishermen. For this reason, according to the tradition, fish – most commonly carp – should be served on the festive table for St. Nicholas Day.

According to one legend, during a fierce storm at sea the saint saved the sailors of the ship on which he was travelling to the Holy Sepulchre through his prayers. Another tale recounts how he plugged a hole in a sinking ship with a carp and brought back to life a sailor who had fallen from the highest mast.

In the image of St Nicholas, elements of the virtuous Christian figure intertwine with those of the pagan god Poseidon. This is why Bulgarians venerate him as the patron of sailors and fishermen, as well as protector of oceans, seas, rivers and lakes. It is believed that when angered, the saint causes storms and hurricanes, and so on St. Nicholas Day sailors traditionally remain on land.

St Nicholas, Archbishop of the city of Myra in Lycia (Asia Minor), died on 6 December 342. His holy relics were kept there until 1087, when, during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos (1081–1118), they were transferred from Myra to Bari in Italy. They remain there to this day in a magnificent basilica built in his honour.

In Western Europe, the feast of St Nicholas is celebrated too. In Bari, both Orthodox and Catholic Christians mark the day together. In countries such as the Netherlands and Belgium, it is particularly important for children. On the night of 5 to 6 December, youngsters leave out their shoes in the hope that the kindly saint will fill them with sweets and presents. In many parts of the West, the festivities dedicated to St Nicholas gradually evolved into the modern Christmas tradition. The 6th of December is also regarded as a day for bankers and merchants.

Before he was canonised, St Nicholas was said to have been a moneylender who helped the poor and those in need by giving away his wealth, always ensuring that the source of his generosity remained unknown. Tradition holds that he secretly threw three bags of gold into the home of an impoverished merchant so that the man could marry off his three daughters and save them from dishonour. After a 44-year break, in 1992 the Association of Commercial Banks and the Bulgarian National Bank reinstated the tradition of marking the church feast of Nikulden also as a professional holiday for banks and bankers.

The feast of St Nicholas falls during the Nativity Fast, and on this day many Orthodox Christians take Holy Communion. Fish dishes are prepared for the festive meal and are often brought to church for blessing.

Many churches in Bulgaria bear the name of the Wonderworker of Myra. St Nicholas Day is also the official holiday of the city of Burgas, whose people have chosen St Nicholas as their heavenly patron. More than 200,000 people celebrate their name day on this date, two-thirds of them men.

Source: BGNES