THE MYSTERY OF BULGARIA

Bulgaria’s strong traditions are reflected in its festivals and celebratory events. Marked by ritual songs, dances and costumes, they offer visitors perhaps the best glimpse into the country’s folkways and customs.

The traditions of the Thracians, Slavs and Bulgarians have been blended into a folklore and lifestyle variety that still amazes experts. The world has started talking about the Mystery of Bugarian songs and dances. A Bulgarian Rhodope folk song together with Bethoven’s Ninth Symphony travelling to the stars with Voyager spaceships is the Bulgarian message to alian civilisations! The world is discovering it again and again at major folklore and song contests in Italy, France, England, Ireland, etc. from which the Bulgarian music and dance ensembles invariably walk off with the first prizes.

The Bulgarian costumes and songs are very specific cultural phenomena which evolve during long historic development. The traditional folk costumes – casual, festive and ritual – differ from village to village.

The colourful folk fairs, singing contests and original folklore festivals in our country gather thousands of singers. musicians and dancers - performers of authentic folklore. Several generations of Bulgarians sing, play and dance there.

You will discover the key to the mystery, heart and soul of Bulgaria, if you attend one of the following folklore events:

The National Folk Festival in Koprivshtitsa held every 5 years in August - and the Eurofolk Festival in Koprivshtitsa - held every year in August;

The “Pirin sings” folklore festival - held every 2 years in August in the Predel locality (15 km from Bansko);

The “Rozhen Sings” National Fair and Singing Contest - held every year in August the large Rozhen col near Pamporovo winter resort;

The “Ilinden” - a big Rhodope festival of “cheverme” (Iamb roasted on a spit over an open fire) and the famous bagpipes. Held every year in early August near the village of Shiroka Luka;

The National Mummers Festival - held every five years in January in the town of Pernik;

The International Folk Festival in Bourgas - held every year in August;

The International Folk Festival in Veliko Turnovo - held every year in July and August.

Full of beauty, gaiety and a healthy love of life, the Bulgarian festivals and customs date hack to ancient times when man tried to appease the natural elements and trembled before their power.

The celebrations of Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Palm Sunday and Easter, the ritual mummers - KUKERI and fire-dancers - NESTINARI games have turned into a moral prescript and philosophy of fertility, health and prosperity.

Baba Marta - the most Bulgarian of all Bulgarian customs, not known anywhere else. The celebrations start every year on the 1st of March. People give one another as gifts MARTENITSA - tassels made of red and white threads, as a symbol of coming spring, health and happiness. They wear them pinned to their clothes until they first see a stork - the harbinger of spring.

The Rose Festival held every year in late May - early June, is both unique and incredibly colourful.

The entire Valley of Roses comes vibrantly alive. The rose-picking season starts at dawn, before sunrise and before the rose fragrance has had a chance to disappear. Young rose-pickers dressed in colourful national costumes make their way to the rose fields to the sounds of folk music.

This is the time of the Festival of Roses, dedicated to beauty, youth and hope. The festival is celebrated with carnivals, processions, folk songs and dances in the streets of Karlovo and Kazanluk.

As a long-standing tradition “King Seuth” and “Queen Rose” open it ceremoniously on the first day of the festival. And the carnival processions along the town streets mark its gala ending on the final day of the celebrations.