Carol singers called "Koledari" dance from house to house carrying a koledarka, which is a richly carved, decorated oak stick. They wear hats decorated with flowers and "popcorn". Wine, bread and cheese is given to them. Sometimes they are accompanied by a couple disguised as a bride and man who dance a ruchenitsa.
New Year- SURVAKARI
Survakari are masked dancers who wear coats made of goat skin . They have large bells tied around their waists which clang loudly as they move. They carry wooden swords and a decorated with corns staff called a sourvachka. They travel in groups of seven or nine dancers from house to house and bring wishes for good health. They are followed by various characters such as "gods", clowns, a physician, a bride, or animals. . This custom is of Slav origin.
14 February - TRIFON ZAREZAN
This is vinegrowers' day. A Vine-king is chosen at a feast with dancing.
March 1st - MARTENITZA
Martenitza symbolises the coming of spring. Original Martenitzas were made of white and red woollen, tied to a silver or gold coin . Nowadays they are made of plastic. On March 1st martenitzas are tied on trees, doors and animals. The red and white colours symbolize the virgin(snow) and blood. The arrival of storks symbolises that spring has arrived.This custom is of Thracian origin.
Before Easter- St Lazar's Day ( LAZARUVANE)
Lazarouvane is the "coming out" of girls eligible to be married . The leader of the dance is called Lazarki, Buenica or Bouynets depending on the region. She leads the chain of 5-15 dancers from house to house and they pay a visit to every family. They perform dances and songs in which they express good wishes for health,and prosperity . This custom is of Slav origin.
May 6th - ST GEORGE'S DAY
This marks the beginning of the summer season. On St George's Eve houses and cattle pens are decorated with crane's bill. On the following day a feast with a special type of bread and other local foods takes place.
2nd or 3th of June - NESTINARKI
The nestinarka (fire dancer) performs in a chapel specially erected for the ocassion. The day starts with music played on tapan and gaida. The whole village forms a procession and dances around the chapel and also around a mineral spring reputed to have supernatural healing powers. Dancing carries on all day and evening. The nestinarka goes into a trance and circles the live coals with icons in her arms , then finally steps into the fire and dances across the live coals.
The country with a 1300 year- old history is located in the Northeastern part of Balkan Peninsula and and has been an important crossroad between Europe and Asia during the centuries. Mountain lakes, sunny beaches, beautiful rose valleys, curative hot springs and deep caves coexist in harmony.Bulgaria is situated on the Black Sea and river Danube and borders with Greece, Serbia, Romania, Turkey and Macedonia. The country territory is 111 000 square kilometers - 520 kilometers in length and 330 kilometers in width. Hills and mountains are the predominant topographic features. A lot of places in Bulgaria are considered as a national heritage Cultural and nature monuments of UNESCO
The Boyanna Church
The church is a monument of the Bulgarian medieval architecture and religious pictorial art. It consists of three parts, the eastern and oldest of which was built in the 11th century.
The Kazanluck Thracian Tomb
The Tomb is characteristic of the Thracian architectural and pictorial art from the end of the 4th and the beginning of 3rd century. B.C.
The Madara Horseman The only monumental stone relief in Europe, dated from the beginning of 8 th century. It is hewn into sheer cliffs at a height of 23 metres on the north-west slope of the Madara plateau.
The Rila Monastery
The biggesst monastery complex on the Balkan peninsula (outside Athon). A stately and imposing monument of the Bulgarian medieval and renaissance architecture and pictorial art. Founded in 10th century by the Bulgarian saint Ivan Rilski, the monument is situated in the north-west part of the Rila mountains at a height of 1100 m.
Nessebur Lying on a small peninsula connected with the mainland by a narrow isthmus, Nessebur is situated in the southern part of the Bulgarian Black Sea coast.
The Rocky Churches At the Village of Ivanovo The rocky medieval monuments in Ivanovo comprise a complex of churches, chapels and monastic cells, hewn into the cliffs on both sides of the river Roussenski Lom at a hight of 6 to 10 m. The complex was created in 13th century and inhabited by monks till 17th century.
The Pirin National Park Pirin is the biggest national park in Bulgaria, spanning an area of 26 480 hectares. It occupies regions with well-preserved natural life from the peak of Vihren to an altitude of 1960m.
Natural Reserve" Sreburna "The reserve is situated 2 km south of the Danube river and it covers an area of 600 hectares.
The Thracian Vault Nearby Sveshtari The vault is a unique monument of the Thracian Hellenistic art, dating as far back as the first half of the 3rd century B.C.
FAMILY-The average age for women to marry is between 18 and 25. Men tend to marry at an older age. Statistics show a decline of marriages and an increase of divorces. Most families in urban areas have one or two children.
EATING- Pork, lamb and chicken are the most commonly eaten meats. Salads are usually eaten in the beginning of the meal and is usually accompanied with the local alcoholic drink (Rakia). The most famous summer cold soup is (tarator), which is made of cucumbers, yoghurt, garlic, dill, walnuts and oil. Coffee is usually either espresso or Turkish style. The local-produced wine and brandy is of high quality.
SOCIALISING- When meeting someone, Bulgarians usually shake hands.Some formal greetings are :
(Dobro utro) =(Good Morning)
(Dobar den) =(Good Day)
(Dober vetcher) =(Good Evning)
(Kak si ?)=(How are you ?)
(Gospodin)= (Mr.)
(Gospozha)= (Mrs.)
( Gospozhitsa)= (Miss) and family names are used.
When leaving, it is common to say (Do vizhdane). Friends say(Ciao).
"Yes" is indicated by shaking the head from side to side, and "no" is expressed with one or two nods of the head.
RECREATION-Soccer and skiing, are the most popular sports in Bulgaria.The country has four main ski resorts. Aleko-Vitosha in the Sofia suburbs is overcrowded on weekends during the ski season.
In August the capital is "deserted" by its inhabitants who flee to the Black Sea beaches or the mountains. . Many people use to go hiking or touring the countryside.
Capital- Sofia city
transport-cars;buses;troleibus;tram(only in Sofia);train
population- around 8 000 000
spoken languages- Bulgarian(young people also speak English)
Plovdiv is "all in one": a Thracian and classical Greek polis,
the pride of Philip of Macedon, the capital of Thrace under the Roman Empire( today we
can see the stadium and amphitheatre from Roman times situated at the old part of the sity),
a centre of Byzantinism,
wealth and most important city.)
about the folk festival in Koprivshtitsa:(Founded: by the Communist State in order to preserve traditional
Bulgarian Folklore.
Frequency: Held every five years (exceptions in 1971 & 2000)
Place: Koprivshtitsa village, in the Sredna Gora Mountains, central Bulgaria.
Timing: Usually the first or second weekend in August
Duration: Usually 3 days, Friday, Saturday, Sunday (4 days in 2005 with the main
action on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and the closing concert on Sunday)
Festival site: The Voivodenets meadows, above the village, approximately
30 minutes walk from the village. The performances take place on 6-8 stages,
6-7 of these are allocated to specific folklore regions of Bulgaria, with the winners
from each region performing on the Central Stage. Bulgarian television broadcasts the
performances from this stage.)
Sofia- Rouse
every day
first bus at 01:00am
last bus at 19:00pm
price
one way-14lv
round trip-(24-25lv)
In the nineteenth century, Rousse was the first town in Bulgaria
to acquire a pronounced European look which came an illustration of its
economic prosperity at the turn of the century. The first and only newspaper
printed in Bulgaria in Bulgarian came out in Rousse in 1865.
Sofia- Kazanlak
every day
first bus at 09:00am
last bus at 16:00pm
price
one way(8-10-11-12lv)
The Bulgarian rose production is popularised every year during
the Festival of Roses.
The first rose festival in Kazanlak took place in 1903.
Manufacturers from the whole valley, together with masked dancers,
called “koukeri” were singing and dancing during the whole fest.
Usually, every year the festival begins with the Queen Rose beauty
contest and continues with the coronation ceremony in her honour.
The chosen beautiful girl must reward later the most skilful rose-pickers
in the rose-harvesting ritual held in the yard of the Institute of Kazanlak
