site.btaRoma Celebrate their New Year on January 14

On Sunday Bulgaria's Roma community celebrate their new year, variously known as Vasilitsa, Vasilyovden, Bango Vasil, or Lame Vasil.

The festivities open on January 13 - similar to Christians' Christmas Eve. The house remains locked until midnight so as to keep good fortune in. In the first minutes of January 14, a ritual called survakane begins: people are gently patted on the back with a decorated cornel twig to drive evil spirits away and ensure good health and fertility. The underlying philosophy of the Roma New Year is that what you do or get on the first day of the year determines what you do or get the year round.

Bango Vasil is a family occasion highlighted by a festive meal and lots of music making. A poultry dish (usually goose or rooster) with sauerkraut or rice is a fixture on the menu, which also includes sarmi (stuffed cabbage leaves) and banitsa (cheese pie) with fortune slips. Before the diners start eating, the food on the table is censed and blessed, and everyone kisses everyone else's hand, asking for forgiveness for any wrongdoing.
 
The first footer of the day is very important. In some Roma groups, that person says "I want a bridge", and the threshold of the house is covered with money. Once inside, the guest blesses the residents, wishing them good health and prosperity. 

On January 14 and 15, people visit relatives and friends, greeting each other with "Bahtalo Vasilii".

Several Roma legends are associated with the celebration. Bango Vasilii is believed to have restored a bridge used by the Roma when it was destroyed by the devil. According to another version, St Basil rescued the Roma from drowning in a stormy sea, sending a flock of geese to fly them to safety. In yet another legend, Bango Vasil was a lame shepherd who rescued a drowning Roma child or gave refuge to a Roma fleeing from his foes.

The Amalipe Centre for Interethnic Dialogue and Tolerance says that Vasilitsa is also marked as Roma Culture Day. A campaign called "Let's Rebuild the Bridges between Us" is held on the occasion, involving tolerance-promoting events countrywide. On the eve of the observances, Amalipe organized Roma schoolchildren's visits to the National Assembly, the Council of Ministers, ministries and other institutions. On Friday, Education and Science Minister Galin Tsokov presented the awards to the winners of the Mediator of the Year competition.