Do you have same traditions in your country? "SlSURVAKANE" - This is the most characteristic NEW YEAR custom, known in Bulgaria. It is performed in the early hours of St. Basil's Day - the first day of the year. In essence, it is a ritual wish for health by patting the back with a raw (most often dogwood) stick. The Survakar blessing is not sung, but spoken. It is a wish for all year. The Survakars go from house to house, entering the homes where the family members, sometimes the barns, the stables, etc. are being survaked. The survakane itself consists of hitting the back of the survakaned object with a specially prepared survak. For this survakane, the hosts present the survakars with gifts established by tradition - most often these are food products: (bread, wine, dried fruits, nuts, apples, etc.).