The Balkans are where ancient traditions meet lively celebrations, and nowhere is this more evident than in the way people here ring in the New Year. In Romania and Bulgaria, New Year’s is more than just fireworks and parties; it’s a time when folklore comes to life, communities come together, and the table overflows with festive dishes. From masked dancers to goat costumes, from fortune-telling pastries to noisy street performances, the traditions in these countries are a vibrant mix of the old and the new. Curious? 

New Year’s traditions in Bulgaria and Romania are remarkably similar, even if they have different names and variations. Both countries share customs rooted in ancient practices, such as rituals to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune. For example, Bulgaria’s Kukeri and Romania’s Plugușorul involve ceremonial costumes, dances, and noise-making to ensure prosperity for the year ahead. Additionally, both cultures celebrate with festive meals, symbolic foods, and superstitions, reflecting a shared heritage influenced by their geographical proximity and historical ties. Despite slight differences in execution, these traditions emphasize hope, renewal, and community, making New Year’s celebrations in both countries uniquely connected.

Let’s dive into Romania’s fascinating New Year customs and discover the best New Year’s customs in Bulgaria that make these celebrations special!

Romania: Legends, Rituals, and Feasts

Romania knows how to keep the party alive while staying deeply rooted in its folklore. Romanians celebrate New Year’s like stepping into a fairytale—complete with bears, goats, and plowmen. 

The Dancing Goat (Capra): A Spirited Welcome to the New Year

One of Romania’s most colorful New Year customs is the Capra or Dancing Goat. On New Year’s Eve, this tradition features performers dressed in elaborate goat costumes adorned with bright ribbons, bells, and beads. The “goat” prances around, accompanied by a group of musicians playing flutes and drums. The goat’s lively dance symbolizes the cycle of life, fertility, and the renewal that comes with the New Year.

Why a goat, you ask? In Romanian folklore, goats are seen as mischievous but lucky animals capable of driving away bad spirits. People perform the Capra dance in neighborhoods and villages, moving from house to house, bringing joy and blessings to families. In return, they’re often given small gifts, snacks, or money—a win-win for everyone involved.

Plugușorul (The Little Plow): A Wish for Prosperity

On New Year’s Eve, Romanians also take part in Plugușorul, or “The Little Plow” tradition. This custom dates back to ancient agrarian times when the plow was a symbol of prosperity and hard work. Groups of villagers, often young men, dress in traditional outfits and carry a small wooden plow decorated with flowers and ribbons. They go door-to-door, chanting special verses that wish the household wealth and a good harvest in the coming year.

The procession is lively, loud, and utterly unforgettable, accompanied by cowbells and whips cracking for dramatic effect. It’s one of the most popular New Year’s superstitions in Romania because people believe the blessings will help ensure their financial success and happiness throughout the year.

Masked Revelers: Chaos with a Purpose

Ever wondered why masked people take to the streets on New Year’s Eve in Romania, making as much noise as possible? This is no random street party; it’s a custom steeped in history. Groups of masked revelers, often dressed as animals, demons, or fantastical characters, parade through villages, banging drums, shaking bells, and shouting at the top of their lungs. Their goal? To chase away evil spirits and start the year on a clean slate.

This loud, chaotic celebration may seem like a fun excuse for a street festival (and it is), but it’s also about warding off negativity and ensuring that good vibes take over the coming year. If you’re lucky enough to witness it, you’ll see performers dancing and even staging comedic skits to entertain the crowd. Of course, they’ll gladly accept small gifts or coins for their efforts.

Feast Fit for the New Year

No Romanian celebration is complete without a feast. During New Year’s, the table is a showcase of dishes that symbolize abundance and luck.

  • Sarmale – These cabbage rolls stuffed with pork, rice, and herbs are essential. The preparation begins with sour cabbage leaves carefully rolled around a savory filling of ground pork, rice, and a blend of herbs and spices like dill and thyme. They are slow-cooked in a tomato-based sauce, which makes them tender and flavorful. Served piping hot, sarmale represents warmth, prosperity, and the comfort of tradition, making them an essential dish for New Year celebrations in Romania. Many believe the layers of cabbage represent layers of fortune in the coming year.
  • Cozonac – This sweet bread filled with nuts, cocoa, or raisins is served as a symbol of happiness and sweetness in life. Traditionally baked for major holidays like New Year’s, cozonac represents prosperity and good fortune for the year ahead. Many families have their own unique recipes passed down through generations, and baking them together becomes a cherished ritual. Some even hide small coins or trinkets inside the loaf, adding an element of surprise and superstition—whoever finds it is said to have extra luck in the coming year.

Piftie

  • Piftie – also known as Romanian pork jelly, is another traditional dish served during the New Year’s feast in Romania. It’s a savory, gelatinous dish made by boiling pork meat (typically pig’s feet, ears, and other cuts) for several hours, along with vegetables, garlic, and various spices. The meat is then removed, and the broth is left to cool, forming a jelly-like consistency as it sets. Piftie is usually served cold, sliced into chunks, and garnished with garlic, vinegar, or horseradish to enhance its flavor. Its rich and unique taste, combined with its festive presentation, makes piftie an essential part of Romanian holiday celebrations.
  • Boeuf salad – a traditional Romanian dish, is a festive staple often served during the New Year’s feast. It’s a hearty salad made from boiled beef, potatoes, carrots, peas, pickles, and mayonnaise, creating a creamy and flavorful mix. The salad is typically garnished with decorative touches, such as hard-boiled egg slices, olives, and sometimes finely chopped vegetables arranged in intricate patterns on top. This visually appealing dish is a symbol of celebration, with its vibrant colors and rich taste making it a favorite among Romanian families during the holiday season.

Families gather around these dishes, toasting to health and prosperity with a glass of plum brandy (or two).

Watching the fireworks

At midnight, the Romanian sky lights up with colors and sparkles as fireworks create a stunning spectacle. People gather in squares or along the riverbanks to admire the display and celebrate the arrival of the new year together. The fireworks symbolize hope and joy for the future, bringing a magical atmosphere to New Year’s Eve. The shared experience of watching the fireworks not only marks the passing of time but also strengthens the sense of community and excitement for the year ahead.

Superstitions

New Year’s superstitions in Romania often include wearing new clothes on New Year’s Eve, symbolizing freshness and good luck for the year ahead. This tradition is believed to bring positive changes and prosperity to those who follow it. Another widespread custom is eating 12 grapes at midnight, making a wish for each one, with each grape representing a month of the coming year. This practice is thought to bring luck and ensure that the wishes made will come true throughout the year.

Bulgaria: Blessings, Banitsa, and Beautiful Traditions

Just south of Romania, Bulgaria takes New Year’s celebrations to a whole new level. From church services to fortune-filled pastries, how Bulgarians celebrate New Year’s is both heartfelt and festive.

On New Year’s Eve

In Bulgaria, it’s a tradition for the president to deliver a speech on national television just minutes before midnight on New Year’s Eve. Many people tune in to watch, making it an integral part of the celebration. When the clock strikes midnight, the national anthem plays, champagne bottles are opened, and everyone exchanges heartfelt greetings such as “Chestita nova godina” (“Happy New Year”) or “Za mnogo godini” (similar to “Live long and prosper!”).

Survakane: A Custom Full of Blessings

Imagine this: It’s the first day of the New Year, and kids armed with branches decorated in popcorn, dried fruit, and wool (survachkas) visit homes to bring blessings. This tradition, known as Survakane, is one of Bulgaria’s best New Year’s customs.

The children gently tap family members on the back while reciting a rhyme or blessing for health, wealth, and happiness. In return, the kids receive treats, coins, or small gifts. It’s a sweet, lighthearted way to ensure the family’s well-being while giving the little ones something to look forward to.

Banitsa with Fortunes: A Delicious Prediction

If you’re in Bulgaria during New Year’s, you’ll definitely encounter banitsa, a flaky pastry made with layers of filo dough and cheese. But on New Year’s Eve, it’s no ordinary banitsa. Hidden inside are rolled-up pieces of paper with handwritten fortunes for the coming year. Think of it as a tastier version of fortune cookies.

Banitsa with fortune

Families gather around, each person taking a slice of the pastry to reveal their fortune. Will you have a year full of travel? Prosperity? Love? The banitsa will let you know. It’s a fun and tasty way to welcome the New Year with a side of excitement and mystery.

Attending Church

For many Bulgarians, the New Year begins with a visit to church. Families attend services on New Year’s Eve or the early hours of January 1st to pray for health, happiness, and blessings in the year ahead. The church becomes a place of reflection and gratitude, offering a spiritual counterbalance to the festive chaos.

It’s a tradition that underscores the importance of faith and community in Bulgarian culture. After all, what better way to start the year than with a sense of purpose and gratitude?

Feasting Bulgarian Style

Bulgarians know how to throw a feast, and the New Year’s table is no exception. Here are the stars of the show:

  1. Kapama – a hearty and festive Bulgarian stew, perfect for New Year’s feasts. It features layers of meat (usually pork, chicken, or veal), rice, sauerkraut, and various spices like paprika and bay leaves, all slow-cooked together in a clay pot. The dish is rich in flavor, with the ingredients blending harmoniously during cooking. Kapama is seen as a symbol of unity and abundance, making it an ideal choice for celebratory gatherings.
  1. Pork with sauerkraut – a classic New Year’s dish in Bulgaria, reflecting the importance of pork in holiday meals. The pork is often roasted or stewed with sauerkraut and seasoned with paprika, garlic, and black pepper. The dish combines the tanginess of sauerkraut with the rich, savory flavor of the meat, creating a satisfying and traditional meal. This dish is thought to bring luck and prosperity, as pork is associated with progress and moving forward in many cultures.
  1. Shkembe Chorba (Tripe Soup) – a beloved dish in Bulgaria, especially after festive celebrations. Made from boiled beef or pork tripe, the soup is seasoned with garlic, vinegar, paprika, and sometimes chili for a bold, comforting flavor. It’s often served with extra garlic sauce and vinegar on the side, allowing diners to adjust the taste to their preference. While it’s not exclusively a New Year’s dish, it’s a popular choice for the morning after the celebration due to its reputation as a cure for hangovers.
  1. Baklava – a cherished dessert often served during the New Year’s celebrations in Bulgaria. This rich and sweet pastry is made with layers of thin phyllo dough, finely chopped walnuts or pistachios, and butter, all baked to golden perfection. It is then soaked in a syrup made from sugar, honey, and lemon juice, giving it a luscious and sticky texture. Baklava symbolizes abundance and indulgence, making it a fitting treat to welcome the new year. Its sweetness is believed to bring good fortune and happiness in the months ahead.

The meal is often accompanied by wine and rakia (a fruit brandy), with plenty of toasts to health, happiness, and prosperity.

The Kukeri festival

The Kukeri are traditional Bulgarian performers who take part in rituals to chase away evil spirits and bring good fortune, particularly around the New Year and during the winter season. Dressed in elaborate costumes made of fur, adorned with beads, ribbons, and animal masks, they create a striking and mystical appearance.

The bells worn by the Kukeri, known as chanove, are a vital part of their ritual attire and serve a powerful symbolic purpose. These large, heavy bells are tied around the performers’ waists and produce loud, resonant sounds as they dance. The clanging of the bells is believed to ward off evil spirits and negative energy, clearing the way for good fortune and prosperity in the coming year. The sound is also thought to awaken the land, signaling the renewal of nature and the cycle of life.

These customs have ancient roots, blending Thracian and pagan traditions. The Kukeri symbolize renewal and the triumph of good over evil, making their performances a vital and colorful part of Bulgaria’s cultural heritage and New Year celebrations.

Why the Balkans Do It Best

So, what makes New Year’s in Romania and Bulgaria so special? It’s the way these countries seamlessly blend ancient folklore with modern celebrations. From the dancing goat and plowman’s blessings in Romania to the survakane and fortune-filled banitsa in Bulgaria, every custom has a story, a purpose, and a touch of magic.

Whether you’re drawn to the popular New Year’s superstitions in Romania or curious about how Bulgarians celebrate New Year’s with their spiritual and culinary traditions, one thing is clear: 

The Balkans know how to welcome a new year in style. If you ever get the chance, don’t just read about these traditions—experience them: contact Balkan Trails and let’s plan your 2025 adventures in the balkan countries!

And if you can’t make it there, why not bring some of the Balkans into your home? After all, who couldn’t use a little extra luck, laughter, and delicious food to kick off the year?

Cheers to a New Year, Balkan-style!