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April 2026 Holidays in Bulgaria

April is the month when spring is felt everywhere, and Easter — the greatest Christian holiday — often falls right in this month. Preceded by Lazarovden and Tsvetnitsa (Palm Sunday), the Easter period is filled with ancient customs, egg dyeing, and family gatherings.

What to Celebrate

5
LazarovdenReligious

A movable feast, one week before Easter. Girls dress in folk costumes and sing Lazarus songs from door to door. Also a name day for Lazar and Lazarina.

12
Orthodox EasterReligious

The most important Orthodox holiday. Families gather, dye Easter eggs (the first one is red), bake kozunak (Easter bread), and attend the midnight church liturgy.

1
April 1st — April Fools' DayTraditional

Although not an official holiday, April 1st is cheerfully observed in Bulgaria with jokes, pranks, and media hoaxes.

Cultural Context

Orthodox Easter in Bulgaria is rich with traditions: from dyeing eggs (the first one is always red) and making kozunak (Easter bread) to Easter gates and midnight liturgy. Lazarovden is a day when girls dress in folk costumes and go from house to house singing Lazarus songs. These customs are zealously preserved even in modern cities.

Full April holiday list →

Frequently Asked Questions

▶When is Easter in Bulgaria in 2026?
Orthodox Easter in 2026 falls on April 12th. The date is calculated using the Julian calendar and usually differs from Catholic and Protestant Easter.
▶What is Lazarovden and how is it celebrated?
Lazarovden is a movable Orthodox holiday falling on the Saturday before Palm Sunday, one week before Easter. Girls aged 10–16 dress in folk costumes and go from house to house singing traditional Lazarus songs and receiving gifts.
▶Why is the first Easter egg red?
According to Bulgarian Orthodox tradition, the first Easter egg is always dyed red — it symbolises the blood of Christ and his sacrifice for humanity. This egg is kept until the next Easter as a talisman for health and protection.