Bulgaria – a blessed land between the Mediterranean and the Russian steppes, the Alps and Anatolia.
111 square kilometers, in the heart of the Balkan peninsula, south of the Danube River. Four seasons in the plains and mountains of Misia, Thrace, Macedonia. European flora and fauna, interspersed by indigenous Bulgarian species. Land which has been cultivated since the dawn of civilization.
Bulgarian nature inspires spontaneous gratitude to the Maker – mountains and plains, hills and slopes, fields and passes, gorges and valleys, bays and beaches. The Rila and Pirin are alpine type of mountains, over 2,900m above sea level.
The longest mountain is the Stara Planina Mountain, which subdivides the country into two distinct parts – north and south. It is also called the Balkan and has given its name to the entire Balkan Peninsula.
There are many juniper and larch forests in Bulgaria. The rivers are many but they are not particularly long or deep. The longest river located entirely on Bulgarian territory is Iskar (368 km).
The Danube River marks the northern border of the country. It links Bulgaria with Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, Romania, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Germany, and via a system of navigable canals, with all European countries.
There are many nature reserves in the country – woods, lakes, marshes, attracting tourists from many countries.
The population of Bulgaria is about 8,5 million. Bulgarians are predominantly a Slavic people, but they are also a Balkan people, so their language, traditions, cuisine, folklore, traditions, and culture reflect the connection and interaction with neighboring nations - Greeks, Turks, Serbs, Romanians. Apart from that, Germans and Jews settled here, crusaders crossed this land. All of them left a trace in the history and modern life of the country.
Bulgaria is a land with unique folklore. More than 100,000 Bulgarian folk songs have been recorded. The folk music is rooted in the Orphic tradition. The dances pulse with the rhythm of Dionysus. Symbols from the epoch of totemism are intertwined in the traditional folk costumes.
Bulgarian traditions take us back in time and transport us into the spiritual life of our ancestors:
“Trifon Zarezan” – the day of wine-growers and wine-makers;
“Baba Marta” – “martenitsas” – the symbol of spring’s arrival, all Bulgarians wear red and white knit decorations;
St. Lazarus’ Day, Palm Sunday, Easter;
Äof the Slavic-Bulgarian enlightenment leaders, the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius – 11 May;
Day of St. St. Constantine and Helena – 21 May. On this day there is barefoot dancing on live coals in the Strandzha Mountain region. This pagan ritual, symbolizing the purification of the human soul is called “fire dance” or “Nestinarstvo”.
Day of the Slavic alphabet and literature and Bulgarian culture – 24 May;
ĐChristmas, New Year’s Eve – no holiday dinner can be properly celebrated without banitsa (phylo pastry with egg and feta cheese stuffing) with wishes for the coming year, written on pieces of paper and hidden in it. It is twirled in the circle of the family and friends and everybody picks the piece in front and looks into his or her piece of paper to learn what kind of luck they can expect in the new year.
And what would these holidays be like without Bulgarian cuisine? Each traditional Bulgarian dish is connected with some superstition, tradition or custom.
Bulgarian yoghurt is an industry, and the famous baked red bell peppers are a symbol of Bulgarian cuisine. If you taste Bulgarian apples you will understand why Eve could not resist the temptation.
nfortunately, millions of people in the world have never stated Bulgarian wine and very few people in this world can cook Bulgarian dishes. (If the opposite were true, the world would be a much better place!)
Millennia-old Bulgaria occupying only 2% of the territory of Europe astounds all who visit it with its historical monuments (over 40,000), 7 of which are included in UNESCO’s world cultural heritage list. Of particular interest are the 36 historical reservations and 160 functioning monasteries.
In terms of territory and population Bulgaria is small, but it is justifiably considered a piece of heaven.
You wish for Alpine mountains? – Certainly!
You wish for sea beaches with golden sand? – Certainly!
You would like to see the excavations of prehistoric dwellings? – Certainly!
You wish to see ancient cities? – But of course!
You want to go to a disco or casino? – No problem!
You like good food? – Bulgarian cuisine! The shopska salad has long become a calling card of this country. To say nothing of the wine and numerous varieties of rakiya – amazing grape brandy!
And there are many more reasons to choose Bulgaria: goodwill and hospitability, friendliness and mindset similar to ours, no crime in our understanding, the ability to communicate with practically every person in the street in Russian, and many more reasons why you should here the Bulgarian:
