Bulgarian Folklore

& Customs

Bulgaria's strong traditions are reflected in its festivals and celebratory events. Marked by ritual songs, dances and costumes, they offer visitors perhaps the best glimpse into the country's folkways and customs.

The traditions of the Thracians, Slavs and Bulgarians have been blended into a folklore and lifestyle variety that still amazes experts. The world has started talking about the Mystery of Bugarian songs and dances. A Bulgarian Rhodope folk song together with Bethoven's Ninth Symphony travelling to the stars with

Voyager spaceships is the Bulgarian message to alian civilisations! The world is discovering it again and again at major folklore and song contests in Italy, France, England, Ireland, etc. from which the Bulgarian music and dance ensembles invariably walk off with the first prizes.
More on the Bulgarian cosmic voices.

The Bulgarian costumes and songs are very specific cultural phenomena which evolve during long historic development. The traditional folk costumes – casual, festive and ritual – differ from village to village.

The colourful folk fairs, singing contests and original folklore festivals in our country gather thousands of singers. musicians and dancers - performers of authentic folklore. Several generations of Bulgarians sing, play and dance there.

Full of beauty, gaiety and a healthy love of life, the Bulgarian festivals and customs date hack to ancient times when man tried to appease the natural elements and trembled before their power.

The celebrations of Christmas, New Year's Eve, Palm Sunday and Easter, the ritual mummers - KUKERI and fire-dancers - NESTINARI games have turned into a moral prescript and philosophy of fertility, health and prosperity.

Baba Marta - the most Bulgarian of all Bulgarian customs, not known anywhere else. The celebrations start every year on the 1st of March. People give one another as gifts MARTENITSA - tassels made of red and white threads, as a symbol of coming spring, health and happiness. They wear them pinned to their clothes until they first see a stork - the harbinger of spring.

The Rose Festival held every year in late May - early June, is both unique and incredibly colourful.

The entire Valley of Roses comes vibrantly alive. The rose-picking season starts at dawn, before sunrise and before the rose fragrance has had a chance to disappear. Young rose-pickers dressed in colourful national costumes make their way to the rose fields to the sounds of folk music.