In the ancient Bulgarian calendar, New Year's Day is on Ignazhden, known as Idinak or Ednazhden – a zero day outside all months. It was the folk New Year until a century ago.
The ancient Bulgarian calendar is considered more accurate than the Gregorian. It consists of 365 days, 4 trimesters, 52 weeks and 13 months (12 of 30-31 days and one month of 1 day). The first day of the year is always the first day of the week. UNESCO recognizes it as the most accurate.
In 1976, UNESCO declared the calendar the most ancient and accurate, dating from the time when the Sun was in the constellation Somor (Mouse).
The calendar is mentioned in the inscription of Khan Omurtag from 823 AD. Historians associate it with 5505 BC.
The ancient Bulgarian calendar is solar, with the year starting from the winter solstice (December 22).
Each month bears the name of an animal associated with specific activities and cares:
- Pig – healthy food in winter
- Mouse – protection from pests
- Ox – start of spring work
- Bars – protection from predators
- Rabbit – hunting
- Dragon – natural elements
- Snake – harvest, attention
- Horse – harvesting
- Monkey – fun after the harvest
- Ram – selection of herds
- Rooster – care for animals in winter
- Dog – home protection
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ZODIAC SIGNS: (by years, based on the 12-year cycles, cited characteristics)
PIG (1911, 1923, 1935, …): Well-intentioned, hardworking, realizes in art, ideal companion.
MOUSE (1912, 1924, 1936, …): Cheerful outwardly, distrustful, loves money, ideal advisor.
OX (1913, 1925, 1937, …): Patient, restrained, balanced, good leader, difficult to bear losses.
BARS (1914, 1926, 1938, …): Explosive, leader, knows how to take risks.
RABBIT (1915, 1927, 1939, …): Talented, secretly ambitious, pleasant conversationalist.
DRAGON (1916, 1928, 1940, …): Active, energetic, strives for perfection.
SNAKE (1917, 1929, 1941, …): Intuitive, wise, makes quick decisions.
HORSE (1918, 1930, 1942, …): Representative, leader, skillful.
MONKEY (1919, 1931, 1943, …): Complicated character, intellectual, diplomatic.
RAM (1920, 1932, 1944, …): Elegant, artistic, insecure.
ROOSTER (1921, 1933, 1945, …): Loves flattery, candid.
DOG (1910, 1922, 1934, …): Restrained, persistent, critical, modest.