Koledari

Midnight rounds in Bulgaria

In Bulgaria, caroling known as koleduvane begins at midnight on Christmas Eve and ends strictly at dawn. Local young men prepare from 20 December, dressing in festive attire with adorned hats and holding wooden sticks called gegas. Led by an older leader called a stanenik, the group walks from home to home visiting relatives and neighbours. They sing powerful songs meant to drive out evil spirits before the first morning light. In return for wishing families health, happiness, and prosperity, the carollers receive ring-shaped baked rolls known as gevreks.

Theatrical masks in Serbia

Serbian carollers spend days preparing elaborate costumes and hand-carved masks representing humans, beasts such as bears, stags, or wolves, or mixed creatures. Masks are shaped from hide, wood, or dried gourds, with bean teeth and horns attached. Led by a figure called Grandpa, the masked troop ventures out at midnight armed with clubs and bells. One caroller dresses as a pregnant bride spinning hemp on a distaff, inviting comic banter. The group searches rooms, dances, knocks on floors, and brandishes weapons to chase demons away before performing a circle dance and blessing the home.

Daybreak carols in North Macedonia

In North Macedonia, the custom takes place on 6 January, the local Christmas Eve known as Badnik. Unlike the nighttime rituals elsewhere, children lead the caroling from early morning between five and eleven. Walking through neighbourhoods, they sing carols called koledarski pesni, including the widespread Kolede lede, to wake sleeping residents. Households welcome the children warmly at their doors, handing out pocket money, fresh fruit, chocolates, and festive candies as tokens of gratitude for their morning songs and goodwill.

Ukrainian caroling and pageantry

In Ukraine, festive singing called koliaduvannia often follows the traditional Holy Supper, known as Sviata Vecheria, and its evening vigil. Groups of young people, congregants, and community societies visit households across the neighbourhood to sing traditional carols, such as Nova radist stala and Boh predvichnyi narodyvsia. These visits are sometimes accompanied by Vertep, a folk nativity puppet or theatre performance. In exchange for their seasonal songs and dramatic skits, carollers collect charitable donations and community offerings from the families they visit.

How Koledari is kept

Preparations start days in advance as carollers rehearse carols and make props or disguises. When the appointed hour arrives, groups process through their communities calling on every household. In some regions, masked men brandish clubs and ring bells to scour homes for harmful spirits, concluding with blessings and circle dances. In others, children or youth choirs serenade neighbours at their doorsteps. Families receive the visitors with hospitality, handing over specially baked breads, fruit, sweets, or coins before the troupe continues along the street.

When and where

The custom takes place during midwinter around Christmas Eve. In Bulgaria and Serbia, carollers venture out from midnight until dawn, while in North Macedonia, children begin early in the morning on 6 January. Ukraine observes the carols following the Holy Supper.

This processional caroling custom is maintained across Eastern and South-Eastern Europe. It is widely practised in Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Ukraine, with related caroling customs found in Romania, Poland, and Czechia.

What Koledari means

The carols and rituals are intended to banish demonic forces, protect the home, and usher in prosperity for the coming season. The songs serve as verbal blessings that bestow good health, fertility, and abundance upon the host family and their livestock.

Days Koledari is marked

Questions people ask about Koledari

See also

Christmas treeA decorated evergreen or artificial tree placed indoors to mark the Christmas season.Name dayA calendar tradition where people celebrate the feast day of the saint after whom they are named.KoliadaA traditional winter caroling and solstice festival kept across Slavic EuropeDragobeteA Romanian festival of young love and spring, celebrated with early flowers and courtship

Good reading and sources

• Koledari on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-06.