Bulgaria

• Bulgaria is a small and really beautiful country in Bulgaria is a small and really beautiful country in southern Europe. southern Europe. It is bordered by Romania to the It is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south and the Black SeaTurkey to the south and the Black Sea to the eastto the east.

• Bulgaria was established in 681 AD but Bulgaria was established in 681 AD but remains of inhabitants were found in 44,000 remains of inhabitants were found in 44,000 BC. The First Bulgarian Kingdom ended in BC. The First Bulgarian Kingdom ended in 1018 AD and then, in 1185 AD started the 1018 AD and then, in 1185 AD started the Second Bulgarian Kingdom.Second Bulgarian Kingdom.

• Bulgaria is a republic now. Its capital and Bulgaria is a republic now. Its capital and largest city is Sofia.largest city is Sofia.

Sofia is situated in the foot of Vitosha mountain

Tsarevets is a medieval stronghold from the Second Bulgarian Kingdom

The National Palace of Culture - SofiaThe National Palace of Culture - Sofia

St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral

• The climate in Bulgaria is temperate. In hot The climate in Bulgaria is temperate. In hot summer you can go to coastal resorts like Golden summer you can go to coastal resorts like Golden Sands, Sunny beach, Nessebar and Albena. In Sands, Sunny beach, Nessebar and Albena. In winter there is lots of snow in the mountains. winter there is lots of snow in the mountains. Winter tourist centres, such as Borovets, Bansko, Winter tourist centres, such as Borovets, Bansko, Pamporovo and Vitosha are picturesque and Pamporovo and Vitosha are picturesque and popular ski resortspopular ski resorts..

Traditions Bulgarians have venerable Bulgarians have venerable

traditions-Baba Marta, Kukeri, traditions-Baba Marta, Kukeri, Nestinarstvo, etc. Nestinarstvo, etc.

Bulgarians may wear the Bulgarians may wear the martenitsa martenitsa - - an adornment made an adornment made of white and red yarn and worn of white and red yarn and worn on the wrist or pinned on the on the wrist or pinned on the clothes — from March 1 until the clothes — from March 1 until the end of the month. The white end of the month. The white thread represents peace and thread represents peace and tranquility, while the red one tranquility, while the red one stands for the cycles of lifestands for the cycles of life..

• Many legends and myths abound of how the martenitsa's colours arose. One of them is the story of Khan Koubrat, the founder of Bulgaria, who was nearing the end of his life. He knew this and asked his sons to vow to keep the various Bulgar tribes together to defend the country. However, soon after Khan Koubrat's death, their land was invaded by the Khazars. They took over the capital and kidnapped Khan Koubrat's daughter, Houba. Of the five sons, one, Bayan, joined with the Khazars in an attempt to stay with his sister. Another, Kotrag, moved northwards and the other three, Asparoukh, Kouber and Altsek, looked south for land away from their enemies. These three had arranged that if they found land then they would send a bird with thread tied to its leg to Bayan and Houba. Eventually, the imprisoned pair received the bird and tried to set off secretly, but the Khazars soon found out and followed them. Bayan and Houba didn't know the soldiers were so close and were about to return the bird with the white thread attached when Bayan was wounded with an arrow, fired by the Khazars. Dripping blood onto the white thread, Bayan still managed to release the bird and they painfully continued their journey to find their brothers. When they finally met their siblings, Bayan was nearly dead. Asparoukh welcomed the dying man, tore pieces of bloodstained white cloth into small strips and gave them to his soldiers to honour brave Bayan.

• "A legend, first attested in the 20th century, says that the Bulgar Khan Asparukh wanted to send a message to Bulgars across the Danube. He tied his letter with a white string to the leg of a white pigeon. The Byzantines saw the pigeon flying and shot it with an arrow. The message was delivered but the white string was stained with the red of the pigeon's blood. The Bulgars then started to wear this thread."

The Bulgarian Easter traditions are a variation of traditional The Bulgarian Easter traditions are a variation of traditional Orthodox Easter traditions. Here in Bulgaria, egg cracking is good Orthodox Easter traditions. Here in Bulgaria, egg cracking is good for more than just eating the egg. Easter is characterised by certain for more than just eating the egg. Easter is characterised by certain food and rituals. In Bulgaria, Kozunak, the traditional, braided, food and rituals. In Bulgaria, Kozunak, the traditional, braided, sweet bread, is a necessary item on the Easter table everywheresweet bread, is a necessary item on the Easter table everywhere..An hour before midnight on Saturday, all churches begin the An hour before midnight on Saturday, all churches begin the Easter liturgy. Families and friends go together to church, Easter liturgy. Families and friends go together to church, carrying the coloured eggs with them. They then walk around the carrying the coloured eggs with them. They then walk around the church three times with candles in hand, led by the priest. The church three times with candles in hand, led by the priest. The candles are carried back home.candles are carried back home.

The ancient Bulgarian ritual of kukeriThe ancient Bulgarian ritual of kukeri, , performed by costumed men, seeks to performed by costumed men, seeks to scare away evil spirits and bring good scare away evil spirits and bring good harvest and health to the community. harvest and health to the community. The costumes, made of animal furs and The costumes, made of animal furs and fleeces, cover the whole of the body. A fleeces, cover the whole of the body. A mask, adorned with horns and mask, adorned with horns and decoration, covers the head of each decoration, covers the head of each kukerkuker, who also must have bells , who also must have bells attached to his waistattached to his waist..

Another characteristic custom called nestinarstvoAnother characteristic custom called nestinarstvo or or firedancingfiredancing, distinguishes the Strandzha region. , distinguishes the Strandzha region. This ancient custom involves dancing into fire or This ancient custom involves dancing into fire or over live embers. Women dance into the fire with over live embers. Women dance into the fire with their bare feet without suffering any injury or paintheir bare feet without suffering any injury or pain..

Our traditional dress is Our traditional dress is Bulgarian folk costumes consist Bulgarian folk costumes consist of pants, shirts, and vests for men, and dresses and of pants, shirts, and vests for men, and dresses and aprons for women. The aprons, dresses, and shirts are aprons for women. The aprons, dresses, and shirts are usually embroidered in regional colors and folk motifs. usually embroidered in regional colors and folk motifs. Red features heavily in Bulgarian folk dress, but black, Red features heavily in Bulgarian folk dress, but black, green, and white are also a part of traditional clothing green, and white are also a part of traditional clothing from Bulgaria's various regions.from Bulgaria's various regions.

Bulgarian music uses a wide range of instruments. Some Bulgarian music uses a wide range of instruments. Some folk instruments are folk instruments are BBulgarian tambura, ulgarian tambura, BBulgarian ulgarian gadulkagadulka, bagpipe, etc, bagpipe, etc. . In different folklore regions of In different folklore regions of Bulgaria different types of instruments are used.Bulgaria different types of instruments are used.

Bulgarian nature

Cave

The symbol of Bulgaria is rose. The Rose valley in Bulgaria is famous for its rose-growing industry which have been cultivated there for centuries, and which produces 85% of the world's rose oil.

Cave Syeva Dupka

Varna and National High School of Humanitarian

Sciences and Arts "Konstantin Preslavski" • We are from Varna. It is a harbour city. Varna is We are from Varna. It is a harbour city. Varna is

one of the biggest cities in Bulgaria. Our school is one of the biggest cities in Bulgaria. Our school is High School of Humanitarian ScienceHigh School of Humanitarian Sciencess and Arts and Arts "Konstantin Preslavski“"Konstantin Preslavski“..

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