Date and public holiday status
St Nicholas’s Day is celebrated on 6 December every year and is known in Bulgarian as Nikulden. It is not a public holiday: it is a normal working day in Bulgaria.
Honouring St Nicholas
The church honours St Nicholas the Wonderworker, the fourth-century Archbishop of Myra in Lycia. One of the most beloved saints in the Christian world, he is remembered for his compassion and the help he gave secretly to people in poverty.
Stories of his gifts helped shape the figure of Father Christmas in Western Europe. St Nicholas is also honoured as the patron saint of sailors, fishermen and travellers, as well as bankers and merchants.
Fish dishes and local traditions
Fish is an essential part of the traditional Nikulden meal. The usual choice is carp stuffed with rice, walnuts and raisins, then baked in pastry or in a baking dish. This dish is called ribnik. Incense is burned over the festive table, and the food is shared with neighbours.
Nikulden falls during the Christmas fast, but fish is permitted on this day. It is also the city celebration of Burgas, a coastal city with fishing traditions. The municipality traditionally distributes fish soup and fish to residents.
Name day celebrations
Nikulden is one of Bulgaria’s most widely celebrated name days, when people with names associated with the saint mark their celebration. Those celebrating include Nikola, Nikolay, Nikolina, Nikoleta, Nina, Niko, Niki, Kolyo and Neyko, along with people who have related names.