September 10, 2015
With summer slowly losing force, autumn starts to gain momentum and sunbathing gets substituted for festivals. The city’s heart starts pumping blood again as the people return to their den and bring their good summer mood with them. Ever since Plovdiv won European Capital of Culture 2019 things have taken a livelier turn and all sorts of gatherings have become abundant. Here’s a warning- September will not promise peace and quiet. This is not the best month for those who want to have a leisurely weekend. Rather, it’s more for the party goers. As the month advances so do the festivals. Here are a few tips on what to expect and where to go. Night of Museums and Galleries – 11th and 12th Sep Source This year is the eleventh edition of an all-time favourite among Plovdiv people and Bulgarians in general. Each year the festival has a different creative layout and offers a vast array of performances around town. The streets of Plovdiv bustle with laughter, joy and pure […]
August 17, 2015
Bulgarian folklore is an inseparable part of our national identity. For centuries, indigenous people have preserved songs, dances, tales, poems, riddles, proverbs, etc. We should appreciate the art created by our ancestors as much as we honor the history. Our folklore is quite unique.There are three state folklore ensembles in Bulgaria. They guard the tradition and hand it down to the next generations. Folklore Ensemble ‘Trakia’ – Photo source: Facebook Ensemble ‘Trakia’ The ensamble was established in 1974 owing to Professor Kiril Dzhenev. He is the founder of the Bulgarian folklore choreography and also sets up more than 100 dance works. Professor Dzhenev is among the most eminent pedagogue-choreographers in the country. He teaches at the State Choreographic School since it was established. Students who are currently in their studies or have graduated from the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts have always made a sizable contribution to the Ensemble and its activities. So far the members of the Ensemble ‘Trakia’ have performed in all parts of Bulgaria. Apart […]
July 22, 2015
A little known fact is that Plovdiv is not only the oldest living city in Europe but it is also the host of the biggest rowing channel on the Balkans. It’s 2,2 km long and is located in the western part of the city amidst the green lungs of the city. After its renovation in 2011 it has witnessed many European championships and has become a favourite spot for the locals. While the water is not suitable for swimming, it does offer a relief of the scorching heat, which is expected to reach 36 degrees this week. For the visitors of the city this week also promises a bit more excitement and namely a rowing competition. The 2015 World Rowing Under 23 Championship It is taking place from 22nd to 26th July and you have the enviable opportunity to behold the making of sport history. Rowing teams from over 50 different countries will strain every muscle to win the coveted gold medal. Will you be there to see it? If, […]
July 15, 2015
Bulgarians from all over the country gather together near Rozhen peak. The fair in Rozhen is held every four years and musicians present their incredible skills. For the first time, the festival took place in 1898. Angel Indzhov – a priest in the village of Sokolovtsi – came up with the riveting idea of the festival. At that time, the frontier between Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire crossed the peak of Rozhen. Nowadays, the fair is still a guardian of the tradition. The symbol of the festival is the orchestra “100 Kaba Gajdi” which literally means “100 Bagpipes”. Namely here Valya Balkanska sang her unforgettable song ‘Izlel e Delyo Haydutin’which was later put on the board of the space station Voyager along with the music of Bach, Beethoven and Mozart. What takes place this year? 400 bagpipers would perform on the first day The festival of Bulgarian folk art and stock-breeding starts on the 17th July there would be a Bulgarian flag of approximately 24.000 m2 demonstration of traditional Bulgarian […]
May 26, 2015
The holiday celebrated on the 1st June seems to be the most awaited by the children. It is called the Children’s Day and is recognised in a great number of countries around the world. The Children’s day flag breakdown: The green background symbolizes growth, harmony and fecundity. The figures in different colours stand for diversity and tolerance. The star formed by the figures is for the light (the light that everybody can be for the world). Each of the rays stands for each of the continents. In the centre of the star is situated the globe – the planet we all belong to no matter gender, race and religion! It all started during the World Conference on Children’s Health which took place in Geneva in 1925 when the League of Nations passed the Declaration on the Rights of Children. The main point of the document is that on account of their physical and mental immaturity, children need special care and health protection both before and after their birth. […]
May 20, 2015
Why is the Cyrillic Alphabet so important? The writing stays forever, the words fly away, said a Latin philosopher and he could not have been more right. Today we cherish the fruits of the strenuous efforts of our ancestors by using the alphabets they created. This is the story of the Cyrillic Alphabet- the fifth most used alphabet in the world with over 220 million people enjoying its letters every day. The creators of the Cyrillic Alphabet The official records say that in the 9th century AD the Byzantine Empire commissioned the brothers Cyril and Methodius to assemble an alphabet for the Slavic nations. The goal was to prevent them from falling under the influence of the Roman church. The writing they created was called glagolitsa. It was rather complicated for the common folk so one of their disciples, Climent, simplified it and shaped it the way we use it today. The History of the Cyrillic Alphabet There is another theory though, which has not penetrated the history books yet. Not until […]