Easter Monday in Bulgaria

A statutory public holiday

Article 154 of Bulgaria’s Labour Code lists Easter Sunday and Monday as public holidays, with their dates determined for Easter celebrations in the relevant year. This makes Easter Monday a statutory holiday for workers and employees; workplaces that operate on holidays may still schedule work.[1]

The Labour Code’s substitute-day rule explicitly excludes Easter. So when an Easter public holiday coincides with Saturday or Sunday, the rule that moves a non-working day to the following working day does not apply to it. The Council of Ministers’ official holiday page lists Easter Sunday and Monday and explains the general weekend rule.[1][2]

A continuation of Pascha

In the Bulgarian Orthodox tradition, Easter is called Pascha and celebrates the Resurrection of Christ. The Bulgarian Patriarchate describes the Resurrection as central to Orthodox faith; the word Pascha means “passing over.”[3][4]

Easter Monday follows the main Easter feast as part of the public holiday period. The Ministry of Tourism describes the Bulgarian Easter celebration as including a late-night Divine Liturgy on Holy Saturday, when worshippers light candles from a flame lit by the priest after the proclamation “Christ is Risen.”[3]

Easter traditions and food

The Ministry of Tourism identifies roast lamb, kozunak (sweet bread) and red Easter eggs as part of the Bulgarian Easter meal.[3]

Visitors can expect Easter services at churches, but should check the local parish for service times.[3][4]

Planning for the holiday

As a public holiday, Easter Monday can affect normal work and opening schedules. For example, the National Gallery’s Museum of Christian Art in Sofia lists official Bulgarian holidays and Easter among its closure days. That policy does not establish the hours of other museums, shops, banks, public offices or transport services, so check directly with the place or operator you plan to use.[1][5]