Festivals
and Events
Bulgaria's
vivid traditions are reflected in its festivals and celebratory events.
Marked by ritualistic songs, dances and customs, these festive occasions
offer visitors perhaps the best glimpse into the country's folklore
and customs.
Some 22 cities and towns throughout Bulgaria have annual festivals
in one of more of the following fields: classical, choral, pop, rock,
jazz, children's and folk music; opera; ballet and dance; theater
and fine arts. Most take place during the summer and attract international
participation. Among the most prominent cultural and national events
are the following:
February
Feb 14 - St. Trifon's Day; dating back to the ancient
Thracians, wine growers celebrate with vine-trimming ceremonies.
March
March 1 - The arrival of Baba Marta (spring) is welcomed
by the exchanging and wearing of red and white tasselled "martenitsas",
good luck charms to bless fertility in people, young animals and fruit
trees.
Late March - "Kukerov Den" On the first
Sunday before Lent, masked koukeri - men with grotesque masks - perform
ritualistic processional dances to ward off evil spirits and bless
fertility at the onset of growing season.
April
April - St Lazar's Day - Marriage-eligible young
girls perform ritual songs and dances.
May
May 6 - Day of St George is the official day of soldiers
and farmers.
May 21 - Saints Constantine and Elena Day - Nestinarstvo,
or fire dancing; practitioners walk barefoot on hot charcoals in small
rural villages in the Strandzha mountains (or increasingly in tourist
resorts) in this pagan event marking the arrival of summer. It is
believed the ritual is descended from Dionysian rites practiced by
ancient Thracians.
May 24 - National Day of Culture and Education. Students
celebrate the founding of the Cyrillic alphabet, introduced by Kyril
and Methodius, who were later canonised.
June
June 2 - Revolutionary heroes day - powerful sirens
echo throughout the whole country at noon sharp in commemoration of
the national heros died in the struggle for liberty and independence.
Kazanluk Rose Festival - Held in early June to coincide
with rose petal picking in the Valley of Roses; folk-costumed dancers
and singers perform traditional songs and dances. This annual event
has been scaled back in recent years.
July
Macedonian Sabor at Rozhen (Southwest Bulgaria) -
a spectacular gathering of folklore performers from all over Bulgaria
and Macedonia.
August
Great Koprivshtitsa Folklore Fest - held every year
at the end of August. Recent changes include the addition of ethnic
(Roma, Turkish, Armenian, Jewish etc) folk music along with the traditional
Bulgarian folk.
Pirin Sings - Like Koprivshtitsa, the magnitude of
staging this large event meant it was held but once every two years.
The newly formed Pirin Sings foundation hopes to make it into a biennial
event. Thousands of singers and dancers from throughout the Pirin
region descend on the Predel Col area near Razlog in late August (most
recently held Aug 20-22, 1999).
Bourgas International Folk Fest - International folk
and dance troupes perform during the latter part of August.
Bansko Jazz Festival - Held annually in August. A
great time to visit Bansko, which normally has a sleepy night life.
Rozhen folklore festival (songs, dances and music)
in the Rhodope mountains
September
Apollonia Days: Sozopol, Bulgaria's oldest coastal
colony, celebrates the Greek god of music and dance with ten days
of events in early September (jazz, rock and theatre festival).
October
Autumn festivals in Bansko, Blagoevgrad, Gotse Delchev
Wine harvest festival in Melnik (mid October)
International Jazz Forum in Rousse (last week of
October)
November
Jazz festivals in Sofia and Blagoevgrad
December
Dec 8 - Student's Day
OFFICIAL
HOLIDAYS
Jan 1- New Year
March 3 - Independence Day
late April - Orthodox Easter
May 1- Labor Day
May 24 - Day of Slavonic Culture
Sept 6 - Unification Day
Nov 1- Day of National Revival
Dec 25 - Christmas
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