Public Holiday Calendar Guide for Bulgaria
Bulgaria’s Labour Code lists public holidays ranging from national commemorations to Christmas and Easter. It also sets rules for weekday rest when certain holidays fall on a weekend and for pay when employees work on a public holiday.[1][2]
Bulgaria’s Official Public Holidays
The Labour Code lists New Year’s Day; 3 March, Bulgaria’s National Day; Labour Day; St. George’s Day and the Day of Valour and the Bulgarian Armed Forces; 24 May, the day dedicated to Saints Cyril and Methodius, the Bulgarian alphabet, education, culture and Slavic literature; Unification Day; Independence Day; National Awakeners Day; Christmas Eve and Christmas; and Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. The Easter dates vary by year.[1][2]
National Awakeners Day is listed in the Labour Code with a specific designation: it is a non-study day for educational establishments. The Code also includes it in its list of public holidays, so that designation should not be read as a statement that it is not a statutory holiday.[1]
Weekend Rules and Extra Non-Working Days
If a listed public holiday other than Easter coincides with a Saturday or Sunday, the first working day or two working days after it, as applicable, are non-working days. The Labour Code excludes Easter from this substitution rule.[1]
The Council of Ministers may also declare additional non-working days for events of particular historical, political, cultural or other significance, or to honour certain professions or express appreciation. Check the applicable calendar when planning around a holiday period.[1]
Working on a Public Holiday
The Labour Code sets a minimum payment for work on public holidays: employees must receive at least double their labour remuneration, whether or not the work counts as overtime. The Code separately sets a minimum increase for overtime work on public holidays.[1]
The rules distinguish holiday work from overtime and also address different working-time arrangements. For a specific pay question, employees and employers should check the applicable schedule and employment terms alongside the Labour Code.[1]
National and Cultural Context
Bulgaria’s Council of Ministers describes 3 March as the National Day commemorating the country’s liberation from Ottoman rule. Its official history page connects 6 September with the Unification of Bulgaria and 22 September with the proclamation of independence.[2][3]
The official holiday list gives 24 May its extended name, linking Saints Cyril and Methodius with the Bulgarian alphabet, education, culture and Slavic literature. The statutory calendar also includes several Christmas and Easter days.[1][2]
Planning Around Holidays
Public holiday dates do not tell you the opening hours of a particular shop, service or workplace. The Labour Code provides for work on public holidays and sets the related pay rule, so check with the provider or employer before making plans.[1]
Frequently Asked Questions about Holidays in Bulgaria
What happens if a public holiday falls on a weekend in Bulgaria?
For listed holidays other than Easter, the first working day or two working days after a holiday that coincides with Saturday or Sunday become non-working days, as applicable. Easter is excluded from this rule.[1]
Are all businesses required to close on Bulgarian public holidays?
The Labour Code sets payment rules for employees who work on public holidays, so work can take place on those days. Check with a business directly for its opening hours.[1]
What is the status of National Awakeners Day?
The Labour Code lists it as a public holiday and specifically describes it as a non-study day for educational establishments.[1]
Which Easter days are listed as public holidays?
The Labour Code lists Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, with the dates determined by the Easter celebrations for the relevant year.[1]
How much must employees be paid for working on a public holiday?
The Labour Code requires at least double the employee’s labour remuneration for public-holiday work, whether or not it is overtime. It separately sets a minimum increase for overtime on public holidays.[1]
Sources
- Labour Code- Ministry of Labour and Social Policy of the Republic of Bulgaria
- Bulgarian official holidays- Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria
- History- Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria