CELEBRATIONS

Christmas is celebrated one week before the actual birth of Christ. Children playing the bagpipes get together and walk the silent streets. The groups which are going to go caroling are formed in the homes. Gates are kept open and everyone expects carol-singers to visit their houses and sing them for good health and success.
On Epiphany Kalofer’s men jump into the river in order to take the cross out of it and play a traditional Bulgarian dance – choro in the cold waters for good health and rich crop.
On Shrove Sunday traditional performances with the participation of koukeri bands are held.
During the week preceding 2nd June, the town is absorbed in its heroic past including a number of events dedicated to Hristo Botev’s life and deed.
The climax of the holiday is gala fireworks display visited by prominent politicians, guests of the town from Bulgaria and abroad.

Cultural calendar
5th-6th January – celebrating Hristo Botev’s birthday anniversaries;
Зrd March – celebrating the national holiday;
The first Sunday before Lent – traditional koukeri holiday; community celebration and koukeri bands parade on the central town square;
24 May – celebrating the Day of the Slavonic script and the Bulgarian culture; the beginning of the celebrations dedicated to Hristo Botev; solemn ritual of taking the icon of “St. Kiril and Metodii”, which is stored in teacher Botyo’s school, out of the “Holy Virgin” church, water sanctification ceremony for the holiday and students’ performances;
1st-2nd June – gala fireworks display and a meeting of worship in memory of Botev and the killed in action for the Bulgarian freedom;
26th July – a ceremony of worship in memory of the slaughtered Kalofer’s people by the bashi-bazouk and the town’s burning down in 1877 ; the worship is held in the yard of the “St. Trinity” church;
15th August – Kalofer lace festival: exhibitions and demonstrations of weaving techniques;
1st November – celebration dedicated to the Day of the leaders of the Bulgarian National Revival.