Saint Basil the Great

The New Year begins by honoring Saint Basil the Great on January 1. The feast is also known as Vasilyovden (Vasil’s Day), Survaki and Surva. On this day masked men (survakari, kukeri, etc.) go from house to house and wish health and fertility. Vasil, Vasilen, Vasilena, Vasilii, Vasilka, Vaska, Vesela, Veselin, Veselina, Valko, and Valcho celebrate their name day on this date.