Honouring St Stephen
St Stephen’s Day is observed in Bulgaria on 27 December every year, the third day of Christmas. Known in Bulgarian as Stefanovden, it is a church celebration honouring St Stephen, the first Christian martyr and an archdeacon.
Stephen was one of seven deacons chosen by the apostles to care for people in need. He was accused because of his preaching and stoned to death outside Jerusalem, becoming the first Christian martyr. Orthodox churches honour him on 27 December, while Western Christian churches observe his feast on 26 December.
Christmas Visits and Name Days
Stefanovden brings the three-day Christmas celebration to a close, following the Nativity of Christ and the Synaxis of the Most Holy Mother of God, a church celebration honouring Mary. Christmas festivities and visits continue on this final day.
In many families, the day is an occasion to visit those celebrating their name day—the celebration associated with their given name. Those honoured include Stefan, Stefka, Stefania, Stefani, Stoyan, Stoyanka, Ventsislav, Ventsislava and Veneta. As Stefan means “wreath”, people whose names are connected with wreaths and crowns also often celebrate. The widespread use of Stefan and Stoyan makes this one of the more widely celebrated name days at the end of the year.
Public Holiday Status
St Stephen’s Day is not a public holiday: it is a normal working day in Bulgaria. Its place in the Christmas church calendar and its family name-day traditions do not make it an official day off.