26 December 2011

Christmas in Chiprovtsi

For my second Christmas in Bulgaria, my parents visited from the U.S. It was really really great to see them! We had an excellent time celebrating holidays and relaxing with my friends in Chiprovtsi. 
Our only snow before this week was an early fluke storm at the beginning of October.  Two snow days made up for this a bit and we had a white Christmas. Dad and I on a walk through town. 


Holiday presentation at the local school.

The first time Mom and Dad visited Bulgaria, we stopped by the monastery and chatted with the priest. He mentioned American apple pie and Mom has wanted to bring him some since. We brought over warm apple pie on Christmas Eve and he shared some of his drenki (they're like sour cherries) infused rakia. 

We celebrated Christmas Eve with Elsa and Stalin. Dinner was delicious. According to tradition,  Christmas Eve dinner is vegetarian, and Elsa had made many of my Bulgarian favorites: sarmi, peppers and beans, and three kinds of pumpkin/squash. There was also a 'kismet loaf' with a small coin for luck hidden inside. When her grandsons arrived, the loaf was broken into 10 pieces, each guest taking one. Mom found the coin in her piece. She should put the coin above the door frame in her house to have luck for the rest of the year.



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