Low cost ski holidays, the cosmopolitan capital of Sofia, and the sandy Black Sea
Coast sprinkled with romantic seaside cities like Balchik and Nessebar. It would
be enough to know this for you to plan your next holiday in Bulgaria, but there's another
side of this country that remains untouched. A world of idyllic hilly landscapes
with horse-riding routes, of silent monasteries and superb painted icons, of lush
forests and rare birds, of smiling children and old ladies with colourful hand-made
scarves, who never forget their past and keep their traditions unspoiled.
Saints and Nature – Orthodox and Pagan Feasts
There are still places in the Bulgarian countryside where locals follow the old
rituals and celebrate nature, as a permanent witness of their simple lives.
When the pagan traditions blend with the orthodox celebrations, it results in a fairy-tale
world, where every month there is colourful feast of the fertile surrounding
nature or the holly saints above. It all starts in the rejuvenating spring, with
Martenitsa (March in Bulgarian), when boys and girls exchange red and white tassels,
to please the angry Baba Marta (Grandmother Marta). The red
symbolises the rising sun, while the white is the purity of the melting snow.
From
then on, every season erupts with an interesting and colourful celebration. St. George's Day in May marks the beginning of the summer when peasants decorate
their house gates with flowers, St. Konstantin and Elena's Day at the end of May
is marked with barefoot dances on heated coals, The Rose Festival in early summer
celebrates the youth and beauty (Bulgarian are renowned for the hand-made rose-oil),
Saint Dimitri's Day in October marks the beginning of the winter, with a big culinary
feasts, where you can taste the delights of the Bulgarian gastronomy (hen stuffed
with cabbage, pepper and eggplant salad). Get your camera ready for the superb celebration
of winter - Kukeri Festival in January, with boys and men of the village with traditional
costumes and colourful marsks are dancing and singing for driving away the bad spirits.
If you don't have enough time to make an incursion into the countryside, you still
have the opportunity to admire and buy authentic souvenirs at the International
Crafts Fair of Varna in August.
Music Festivals in the Mix
Every year, in May and June, the European music community looks towards Bulgaria.
These months feature music festivals, and opera and ballet performances
of prestigious European artists. There's a search for young talents, photography
exhibitions and master classes are organised, while special tributes are paid every
year to some of the greatest composers of the world. "The
music for free people", as jazz is often described, can be enjoyed in the beautiful
set-up of Bulgarian Mountains, with Bansko International Jazz Festivals opening
gates for renown artists from across the world every year in August.
Bulgaria brings something special to the European events stage – colour and
authenticity – while the locals still celebrate their ancient traditions,
the beautiful landscapes of sea and mountain grabbed the interest as perfect set-ups
for the modern international festivals.