April 24, 2016
Palm Sunday is a moveable feast celebrated a week before Easter by all Christians Palm Sunday marks Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. On the previous day – Saturday – Jesus Christ raised Lazar from the dead. The holiday is named after the resurrected Lazar (St. Lazar’s Day). Traditionally, on St. Lazar’s Day young girls (lazarki) walk around the town/village singing and carrying flowers and blooming branches with them. They perform a variety of customs connected to the holiday, dressed in special traditional clothes. They sing to all the family members of each household they visit. In return, the host gifts them eggs for Easter or money. It is believed that a house visited by the young ladies will have good luck throughout the whole year. On Palm Sunday willow twigs are sanctified and given away Everyone takes one and brings it home as it is a widely spread belief that these twigs not only bring health and happiness but can also heal a diseased person. The willow twigs symbolize the palm […]
February 14, 2016
Along with St. Valentine’s Day in Bulgaria we do celebrate Trifon Zarezan – St. Trifon’s Day As we all know St. Valentine’s Day is the day of Love. What about Trifon Zarezan? It is the national festival of vine-growing and wine-producing. According to the old calendar, Trifonovden used to be on the 14th of February. After 1968 when Bulgaria adopted the Gregorian calendar St. Trifon’s Day moved to the 1st of February. Nowadays, everyone chooses on which date to celebrate it, but some Bulgarians have decided to honor the name of St. Trifon both on the 1st and the 14th of February! Isn’t that a good decision? Who is St. Trifon? Saint Trifon lived in the 3rd-century in the Roman Empire and was famous as a skillful healer. He was also a Christian. During those times Christians were prosecuted, and because St. Trifon didn’t want to betray his beliefs he was tortured and killed. The festival of the wine dates back to ancient times. The Thracians were the first to […]
November 16, 2015
Free Plovdiv Tour is expanding its team → JOIN US The long-awaited time for expanding our team has come. Just on the eve of the Christmas holidays we are going to be presented with a marvelous gift – new enthusiastic and entertaining members. Local people who are eager to know more about the city of Plovdiv and are fascinated by its mesmerizing beauty are welcome to join the team of Free Plovdiv Tour. Join us!If you anticipate working in a dynamic team with interesting and cooperative people then FPT is the right place for you! If you join us, you would: Be a part of a motivated and enthusiastic team of young professionals Benefit from being in an international environment Practice your public speaking…with people from 6 continents Have lots of fun and make lots of friends from different countries! We want you, if you: Love Plovdiv and Bulgaria Have rich general knowledge about the city and the country and you are eager to learn more Are Bulgarian and fluent […]
October 31, 2015
Are Bulgarians superstitious and are you familiar with the most common superstitions? Circle the correct answer: What first comes to mind when you see the following objects? Coming across a four-leaved clover means good luck for the finder. In case a black cat crosses your path, there is a risk that something bad might happen to you until the end of the day. Walking under a ladder invariably stands for bad luck. All of the above. If you are of the opinion that ALL of the statements are TRUE, then you have answered the question correctly. Good for you! Probably, these three symbols – a four-leaved clover, a black cat and a ladder – are among the most common ones worldwide. Everyone has spent hours and hours (or at least some 10 minutes) looking for a ‘lucky’ clover in the backyard. Or while hiking in the mountains. We tend to be really tenacious when it comes to ensuring good luck for ourselves and our beloved ones. What’s more, you can […]
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 […]