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Why Bulgaria |
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Bulgaria
Situated at the southeastern end of the Balkans, at the crossroads between Europe and Asia, Bulgaria is the homeland of the Europe's most ancient civilization and the oldest gold in the world. This small and wonderful country will enchant you: the amazing beauty of its nature, the genuine hospitality of the people, the excellent wines and tasty cuisine, awesome mountains and beaches, alluring new spas, lively folklore traditions, 13 centuries of history, artefacts and ancient legends – numerous are the reasons that will make you fall in live with the Sleeping Beauty of the Balkans. Find your own reason to adore it – come to discover Bulgaria – the hidden treasure that awaits you!
Bulgaria offers a wide variety of opportunities for travellers of each age and for every taste – cultural trips, historical, monastery or theme tours, holidays on the Black Sea coast or in the mountain resorts with great ski facilities, wine tours, eco tours, hunting trips, spa recreation, city tours, convention and sports events – everything can be arranged at reasonable prices, in mind with your budget and best possible services for your satisfaction.
Climate & Boundaries
Bulgaria has four beautiful mild seasons and a wonderful nature. Majestic mountains with Alpine-like ski-resorts and amazing lakes, sunny beaches on the Black Sea cost line, gorgeous rose valleys, curative hot springs and deep chilly caves – all blended in harmony. Bulgaria has a wide outlet on the Black Sea and river Danube and borders with Greece, Serbia, Romania, Turkey and Macedonia. The country territory is 111 000 square kilometres - 520 kilometres in length and 330 kilometres in width.
Relief
Mountains take almost a quarter of the country's territory and largely determine its relief. As you move south of the Danube River you come across the Balkan Range /known locally as Stara Planina/. Rila montain has the highest peak on the Balkans – Mussala 2925 m; then follow Pirin and Rhodope ranges with unspoiled natural parks and charming ski-resorts. Many caves some of them 3,5 million years old, gorgeous peaks and lakes, hot mineral springs, ancient Thracian tombs lend attraction to the mountains.
Among the mountain ranges are hidden more than one hundred valleys as well as the famous Valley of Roses producing a high-quality attar. The Bulgarian oleaginous rose yields 70 percent of the world's attar of roses used by every perfume company as an essential component of its products.
A total of 380 km coastline offers everything from rugged secluded beaches to vibrant resorts as Sunny Beach or Golden Sands.
History & People
The Bulgarian lands are ancient crossroads. They were populated from remote antiquity and remember many ancient civilizations. Over the centuries dating back some 5000 years, the Bulgarian people developed from three main ethnic origins: the Thracians, Proto Bulgarians and Slavs.
The state of Bulgaria has 1300 years old history and according to the statistics it is ranked third (after Greece and Italy) for the number of its archaeological monuments.
The earliest inhabitants of the present Bulgarian lands were the Thracians.
Ancient Greek historian Herodotus describes the Thracians as the second biggest tribe in the Ancient world, after the Indians. The most famous Thracians were Spartacus and Orpheus.
Spartacus was born on the territory of present-day town of Sandanski (south-western Bulgaria) and as an adolescent was sold into slavery in ancient Rome. Later he became the legendary gladiator that led the biggest slave uprising in the Antiquity.
Orpheus is known for his incredible talent as a musician and singer. He was born near the present village of Guella in the Rhodope mountain a little before the Trojan war. The legend tells that he was the greatest singer of all time and even the wild animals stopped to listen to his music. Also he took part in the quest of the Argonauts together with Jason and Heracles.
During the age of the Roman Empire, the lands were included in the Roman provinces and many towns were founded or strengthened. Since these early times the city of Serdika, present-day capital of Bulgaria – Sofia was a major Roman centre, favourite among the nobles due to its hot curative spas.
The Bulgarians were the basic ethnic component in the structure of the Mediaeval Bulgarian State. Their original homeland was in Central Asia, in the mountainous region of Pamir. As a highly developed civilization they had culturally dominated the territories of central Asia for a long time. In the middle of the 7th century Khan Asparuh united the ancient Thracian nation and the Slavic tribes and founded the mighty Bulgarian Kingdom in the year 681. Ever since the Bulgarian state had its periods of rise and fall, glory and dark ages. Bulgaria has harbored and developed culture in 2 alphabets - the Cyrillic (9th century) and the Glagolitic (862), courtesy of the brothers Saints Cyril & Methodius. Cyrillic is the basis of most languages spoken in Eastern Europe today. Bulgaria is the first Slavic nations that adopted Christianity in 866.
During the Golden Age under the reign of King Simeon I the Bulgarian state was among the three mightiest in Europe together with the Frankish and Byzantine Empires, its borders reaching on three seas – Adriatic, Aegean and Black. Then came the dark periods but Bulgaria preserved its ethnic identity, religion and culture after 200 years Byzantine and 500 years Turkish yokes. In the middle of the 18 century began the National Revival period /Bulgarian cultural renaissance/, marked by Father Paissy’s Slav-Bulgarian History. In this period Bulgarians rediscovered their cultural and historical heritage. There were many armed uprisings against the Ottomans and many massacres. In 1878 after the Russian-Turkish war Bulgaria gained its liberation from Ottoman rule.
Bulgaria was independent monarchy till 1946, when after the Second World War the communist party came to power declared the country a republic and sent to exile the royal family. Bulgaria, in its modern history never lost a battle and never lost a flag, captured by its enemies' armies. Bulgarian government saved the lives of its 50,000-strong Jewish population, despite ill-fated and ill-judged alliance with Nazi Germany.
Today, after the changes in the beginning of the 1990-ies, Bulgaria is changing to a modern European country with free market economy and west-bounded politics - already a member of NATO, and soon to become a member of the EU.
Language
The official language in Bulgaria is Bulgarian. The Bulgarian language belongs to the group of the Slavic languages and it is very close to Russian, Macedonian and Serbo-Croatian languages. The majority of people speak Russian, basic English, German and French. Attention: Bulgarians shake their heads from the left to the right to express "YES". However, this stands for "NO" in the rest of the world.
Money
The national currency is known as leva (plural). One lev is made up of 100 stotinki. The following coins are available: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 stotinki and 1 lev. The following notes are available: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 leva (BGN).
Bulgaria is in currency board and the Bulgarian lev has a fixed exchange rate to the EURO
1 EURO = 1.95583 BGL
Population
Traditions & Feasts
Bulgarians love to celebrate and their calendar is full of traditional and other festivities. The extent to which some of the more traditional holidays are celebrated may vary from region to region and the folklore traditions are more prevalent in rural Bulgaria than in the larger towns.
A very important role is played by the Name Days. Most name days are fixed calendar days although some are related to religious events such as Easter and therefore fall on different dates each year.
Friends and family are free to visit those celebrating their name day, bringing gifts and flowers. Typically the person celebrating will also share out chocolates or other treats amongst his work colleagues on that day.
1st January – New Year’s Day Vasilovden - In pagan times this day was linked to winter solstice, and marked as the turning point in Mother Nature. There are several rituals related to this day, the most popular and observed is the ‘Sourvakane’. Young children prepare and decorate a branch from a cornel tree, known as ‘sourvachka’. With this they go from home to home tapping the older generation on the back, reciting wishes for health and wealth in the coming year. They are usually rewarded with some small coins or ‘gevrek’ /like bagels/ and dried fruits.
‘Laduvane’ is a ritual performed by young maidens in Western and central regions of the country at this time of the year. The maidens drop their rings or bracelets into a cauldron filled with fresh spring or well water, together with oats or barley. The cauldron is covered with red or white cloth and left out overnight under a fruit tree. The next day one of the girls, dressed up like a bride takes the rings from the cauldron whilst the other girls sing fortune-telling songs. Each girl takes some of the oats from the pot and places them under her pillow. The man she dreams about will be her groom.
6th January – Jordanovden
the day is dedicated to the purifying power of water. Water is blessed and the congregation is sprinkled with holy water. The most dramatic event that takes place on this day all round the country is the throwing of a cross into the icy waters of a lake, river or the sea. Young men dive in and race to see who will be the first to retrieve the cross. The winner is said to be healthy and lucky throughout the following year. All those who celebrate their name day should take a ritual bath in the icy waters /followed by a good strong red wine!/.
7th January – Ivanovden
this day marks the end of Christmas holiday cycle, and in the Orthodox church is dedicated to St. John the Baptist, who bathed Christ in the river Jordan, recognizing him as the son of God. The ritual bathing from the previous day continues and in may ways is more significant on this day. At the end of the day the ‘Horo’ is danced by all in the village.
17th January - Antonovden
Celebrated as a protection against illness, women should not spin or knit on this day, nor should they cook beans or lentils so as not to provoke the plague, pox or measles. Soda bread rolls with jam are distributed among family and nighbours and one is lept in the loft of the house as protection against illness.
18th January – Atanasovden
A holiday linked to New Year custom, St. Atanas, the lord of snow and ice rides into the mountains in his silk shirt on his white horse ordering the winter to leave and the summer to come. For this reason the holiday is considered mid winter’s day. A black chicken or hen is slaughtered and prepared with rice. It is shard among neighbors and friends as a protection against illness, the wings are saved as it is believed that they have healing powers.
The twin brothers Anton and Atanas were ironsmiths and both 17th and 18th January are celebrated by smiths and related professions. Many of the customs and superstitions of the days are interconnected.
21st January – Babinden
Although literally translated it implies ‘day of the grandmothers or old women’, it is in fact known as midwife day. Dedicated to the health of the child, the midwives visit the homes of recently delivered children to bathe them and anoint them with oil and honey.
31st January – Sredzimie Midwinter
A remnant from the oldest Indo-European New Year, it is celebrated here by all the various herdsmen /cow, ship, pigs/.
1st February – Trifon Zarezan
A day dedicated to the trimming of the vines. Early in the morning the housewife prepares a ceremonial bread, boils a chicken and prepares a flask of wine, all of which are placed in a colorful woolen bag together with a bottle of holy water from the church. Facing the rising sun, several twigs are cut from one or three roots either in the middle or in the corner of the vineyard. The vine is ‘watered’ with wine and the blessed water to protect it from hail and frost. The cut twigs are twisted into wreaths, which are worn or used to decorate wine bottles. Others are taken home and placed next to the icon. After the pruning of the vine the men settle down to festive meal in the vineyard. In some areas a ‘wine king’ is crowned, his happiness will reflect the harvest. The wine king is pulled on a special cart back to the village where the celebration continue for the next two days.
3rd February – Semen Den Seeds Day
it is said that if a woman wants to conceive she must stand at a crossroad giving out ‘pinched corn bread’. Pinch means that the dough has been pinched many times to mark the pattern of a cross.
14th February – Valentine’s Day
Originally celebrated as Trifon Zarezan, post communist Bulgaria could not resist the temptation of declaring this day the day of lovers just as in the West and so Trifon was moved. Real wine lovers or just plain boozers use it as an excuse to celebrate twice under the same pretext.
Kukeri Mummers Custom
This is one of the most spectacular pagan events in the Bulgarian calendar and usually coincides with the start of the Orthodox lenth, although dates vary according to regions. A carnival of masked men dressed in goats or sheep skins and carrying huge bells. The noise is deafening as they make their way around the village chasing off bad spirits and illnesses, making way for a rich and plentiful harvest.
1st March – Baba Marta
Probably the most charming Bulgarian tradition is the Martenitsa.
'Chestita Baba Marta' is how Bulgarians greet each other on the First of March. They then present each other with martenitsas. Red and white woolen threads entwined, symbolizing health and happiness for the coming months. You will see stalls all over town selling martenitsas, starting at around 50 stotinki for the most simple ones. Each year the assortment on offer gets more elaborate. Martenitsas are usually pinned to lapels or tied around wrists and worn till the first stork is seen. They should then be tied on a fruit tree or buried under a stone whilst making a wish. March is generally known as the woman's month because the weather is said to be as moody as a woman’s mood swings (Cold harsh winter/ warm and pleasant spring).
5th March - Zadushnitsa (All Soul's Day) Graves of departed family members are visited and cared for. Plates of sweets are left by the graves.
9th March - Mladenitzi (The day of the Holy Forty Martyrs)
It is believed that on this day God drives forty hot spikes into the soil and the sun turns to summer. It is time to sow and plant. Housewives should cook 40 stuffed peppers and everyone should try to eat 40 different items on this day as a protection against measles.
13th March - Sirni Zagovene
Celebrated on the first Sunday before Lent the rituals are to ensure fertility, prosperity and health. The younger generation also seeks forgiveness from the older generation on this day and in the home games are played with the children by suspending a bit of coal, an egg and some cheese in turn on a red thread hanging from a ceiling beam. As the symbol swings round in circles so the children must try and catch them with their mouths.
14th till 16th March - Trimiro
This is a full three-day fast, no food or water. On the third morning those that have been fasting go to church for communion before returning to their home and sitting down to feast with relatives and friends.
20th March - Todorovden
Always celebrated on a Saturday, 43 days before Easter, Todorovden is also known as Horse Easter. The health of the working horses is celebrated and in villages across the country you will see horses decorated with red pompoms and crowds gathering in nearby fields to watch young men racing the horses.
25th March - Blagoveshtenie (The Annunciation)
According to tradition this is the day when migratory birds such as storks and swallows return, marking the awakening of spring in nature. Homes are cleaned and garbage is burnt to get rid of any illnesses from the past year.
23rd April - Lazarovden
Always celebrated on the Saturday a week before Easter this is a 'coming of age' celebration for young girls known as lazarki. The maidens are dressed in colorful traditional costumes, with wreaths of flowers in the hair, singing and dancing as they go from home to home.
24th April - Tsvetnitsa
This is also the orthodox 'Palm Sunday'. Most people go to church on this day, they buy some willow twigs, which are blessed and then tied to the entrance of the home as a proclamation of faith in the resurrection of Christ and also for good health. In rural areas rituals with the lazarki continue.
All who are named after flowers and trees celebrate their name day on this day.
1st May - 'Velikden' Easter
As the Bulgarian name implies Velikden (great day), Easter is one of the most significant holidays in the Bulgarian calendar and starting with Palm Sunday, the holy week leads up to the Great Day. The traditional Easter eggs should be prepared on Maundy Thursday or on the Saturday. Superstition does not allow the eggs to be painted on Good Friday.
At midnight on Saturday, people will go to church with their red (symbolic of the blood of Christ) painted egg. The priest will proclaim three times 'Christos voskrese' (Christ has risen) and the congregation replies 'Vo istina voskrese' (Indeed he has risen) and knock their eggs together with their neighbor. They then light a candle and return to their homes. Easter eggs are of great symbolic importance. They represent the beginning of all life. According to tradition the first egg to be painted must be red. The housewife can then use this egg to rub the forehead and cheeks of her children for good health. 'May you be healthy, white and red!' This egg is then kept in the home next to an icon till the following Easter.
A basket of eggs is essential on the dining table in every home over Easter along with the special Easter bread, more commonly referred to as Kozunak.(A sweetish bread cake made from yeast dough). Family, neighbors and friends greet each other with the 'Christ has risen' greeting and exchange eggs and bread. For many Bulgarians Easter Sunday marks the end of their vegetarian diet. As the family gathers around the table each member selects an egg, which is then knocked together with the others to find the victor i.e. the strongest egg.
6th May - Georgievden
St. Georges Day is celebrated in Bulgaria on the 6th May and traditionally roast lamb (usually whole) is eaten on this day. St. George the dragon slayer is celebrated as the patron saint of livestock.
21st May - Konstantin & Elena
According to legend both Konstantin & Elena were selected by God to be his assistants, after they showed courage and faith by walking on glowing embers with bare feet. This day is celebrated by fire dancers in the Strandzha Mountain region.
Cyril & Metodius (11th May) and the Bulgarian Alphabet (24th May - public holiday)
In May there are two celebrations relating to the brothers Cyril and Methodius, founders of the Bulgarian Alphabet. On 11th May is their name day on which the brothers themselves are honored for their contribution to civilization.
1st June – Children’s Day
Celebrations and outdoor performances for the day of the kid.
2nd June – Botev’s Day
at midday sirens will sound for five minutes in all major cities and towns around Bulgaria in commemoration of all who died in the Turkish liberation struggle. This is the day when was killed one of Bulgaria’s grates revolutionary man and poet – Hristo Botev. People generally stop what they are doing and observe a few minutes silence.
12th June – Dushovden / Spirits Day/
it is popularly believed that the souls of the departed are free to roam on earth from Maundy Thursday to this day, when they return to their world again. Festivities are organized to bid farewell to the souls.
13th – 19th June Rousalska Nedelya
the week after Pentecost Whitsunday is also know as Mermaid Week. It is believed that by then the mermaids have done their job on earth, they have sown the seeds of fertility. Houses are decorated with wormwood and young girls put strings of it in their bosom, young men in their left pocket, and children around their neck in a small cotton bag as a charm amulet to protect them from the tricks of the mermaids. A man never starts alone o a journey during that time for he may lose his mind, getting the ‘mermaid disease’. Only the mermaids can heal him. The Rousali are ‘mermen’ who spent the whole week going from home to home in groups of uneven numbers /3, 5, etc./ spreading health and fertility. The leader is called Vataf and the position is hereditary, following the male line. It is only the Vataf who is allowed to pick medical herbs and only he knows the incantation, which is pronaounced over the herbs. By verbal magic he transmits the magical force of nature to chosen Rousalii. They are young married men, who are healthy and quick, do not drink and are honest and good hearted. The Rousalii must be able to keep secrets, endure deprivation and may not go back to their homes during the whole Midsummer Week /Rousalska Nedelya/. They have the power to heal ‘The Mermaids Disease’.
14th June – Liseevden
Lisse, the brother of Bartholemew governs the dark hail clouds. This day is also celebrated by the older generations as a protection against baldness.
15th June – Vidovden
Vido is the last of the hail men brothers the first is called German and is honored in May is celebrated on this day, but only by those who have honored the other three. The Bulgarian saying ‘Vidovden will come’ reflects the belief that Vido will punish the sinners.
24th June – Enyovden /Midsummer’s Day/
Linked to the ancient rituals of the summer equinox, it is believed that on this day winter starts its long return journey. It is also the day of herbs.
29th June – Petrovden – Peter
30th June – Pavlovden – Paul Pavel
According to the Christian calendar ‘Petrovden’ is linked to St. Peter and St. Paul, disciples of Christ. In the Bulgarian tradition they are considered brothers, in some areas even twins. For this reason the name day of Peter and Paul are celebrated just one day apart. Petrovden also coincides with the beginning of the harvest season and for this reason people work in the fields for half the day. Pavlovden is associated with the protection from fire, lightning and hailstorms and people should not work, in particular not light any fires on this day.
15th, 16th, 17th July – Goreshtnitsi Dog Days
People believe that if during these three days they do not follow the traditional rules and instead work in the fields, garden or home, fire will descent from heaven and burn down their home and fields.
20th July – Ilinden /Iliya, Iliyana
in Bulgaria St. Iliyah is honored as the patron of the skies. Prayers are held for rain and fertility and to protect from hail and thunderstorms. It is believed that St. Iliyah crosses the sky in a golden chariot, in search of the dragon that feeds on the wheat.
27th July – Panteleevden /St. Panthaleimon’s Day/
St. Pantheleymon had great healing powers and this day is therefore celebrated by healers and clairvoyants. Also know as ‘Panteley the traveler’ or ‘Water Panteley’ he is honored on this day to prevent heavy rains and flooding.
1st – 12th August –Makaveite
A folk holiday used to predict the weather for the coming year by assigning each day to represent a month, starting with September.
15th August – Golyama Bogoroditsa Assumption - Maria
this day is devoted to the death of the Holy Mother of Christ, the patron saint of motherhood and women, protector of the family unit. It is a big folk holiday in Bulgaria, not only because it’s tha name day of Maria. It is believed that if sick people spent the night in ‘holy places’ they will be cured.
18th August – St. Ivan Rilski
the death of St. John of Rila is commemorated on this day.
Sofia
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