A few words about Bulgaria

 Total area: 110 994 sq. km. Situation: south-eastern part of Europe, the Balkan peninsula. 

Capital: Sofia (population: more then 1 350 000), another big Cities: Plovdiv , Varna, Bourgas , Rousse .

Population: 7,54 mil. Bulgarian (2003).  Ethnic groups Bulgarian Turks (8%) and others (about 5%).

Religion: Bulgarian Orthodox (88%), Muslim (8-9%), Catholics and Jewish (  2-4%)

Official language: Bulgarian. 

Government type: parliamentary republica

Currency: bulgarian lev, 1 lev=100 stotinki, 1 EUR=1,95 Lev( BGN)

 History

 681-1018: Foundation of the first Bulgarian State. Its capital was Pliska. It was ruled by a khan.

1393: Ottomans attacked Bulgaria and destroyed Tarnovo. In the next five centuries Bulgaria was converted into a region of the Ottoman Empire. 1876: The April Rebellion was a sign for a bloody revenge to the Ottomans. More than 20 000 Bulgarian people were killed.

1878: On March 3 with the San Stefano annex Bulgaria became an independent country but the southern part was under Ottoman control still 1912.

1946: Monarchy turned to popular democracy with referendum. The Fatherland Front assumed power, began the time of communism.

1948/54: Stalinn period of Chervenkov

1962/89: Government of Todor Zhivkov

10/11/1989: Todor Zhivkov resigned. Beginning of democracy processes with the Union of democratic forces

2000: Negotiating an agreement for joining EU.

2004: April Bulgaria became a member of NATO

2007: Bulgaria is set to join EU

 Culture and customs

 Bulgaria has an impressive common heritage. More than 10 000 Thracian mounds have been found. They represent various examples of the ancient culture- ordinary tombs, funeral cameras, complexes with one entrance (dromos), narthex and real funeral cameras. Thracian and Greek mythology influence mutually. After 7 century B.C. arose the first Greek settlements in the territory of Bulgaria. The Greek colonies have been conserved up to the present day on the Black Sea. Roman and Turkish yoke are connected with impressive constructions. Places of interest are the Plovdiv theatre and Rilla Monastery.

Literature:  It is pity that the country with the most ancient Slavs literature remained in the background.

Music:  traditional - During the 500 years of the Ottoman slavery, songs represented hopes, fears and everyday life of ordinary people; modern-  pop music, other new-come is pop-folk „chalga"-influence between traditional-balkan-oriental.

 Economy

 In 1996/97 Bulgaria was in critical economic and bank crisis. Today Bulgaria is one of the most stable countries in the region, which is a fact of importance for the increasing trust of the European countries.

Since22/01/2002 President of Bulgaria is Georgy Parvanov, elected on 18/11/2001. Since 16/08/2005 Prime Minister is Sergey Stanishev, leader of the Coalition for Bulgaria. It is a coalition government. Partners in it are the three biggest parties in the present Parliament - Coalition for Bulgaria, National movement of Simeon II and Movement for rights and freedoms.

Relief

Bulgaria is situated in the eastern part of Europe. Its maximum length from west to east is 520 km, and from north to south - 330 km. Bulgaria shares borders with Romania to north, with Macedonia and Serbia to west, with Greece and Turkey to south, and with Black Sea to east. The coastline is 354 km long.

Sea and lakes: The Black Sea is semi-closed sea with low salt content of about 18. More than 50% of the coastline is beaches-wide and long, covered with fine sands. There are a few lakes in Bulgaria. Very impressive and fascinating are the small karst lakes in the Pirin and Rilla mountains.

Rivers: Bulgaria has limited water sources. More of the rivers are short, the only one navigable is the Danube river. Another  big rivers are Iskar , Maritsa.

Mountains:1/3 part of the territory is mountain ranges.  The Balkan Mountains divides the country into two parts. The highest point here is the peak of Botev (2376 m). To north is the Danube valley. Between the Balkan range and Sredna gora (1604 m) in south, lay the Zadbalkanski valleys. In north of Sredna gora and in south of Sofia is located the Vitosha mountain (2290 m).  South of Vitosha there are two mountain ranges - Pirin and Rilla, which could be called the Bulgarian Alps. The highest point in the whole Balkan peninsula is Musala (2925 m), situated in the Rilla mountains. The highest point of Pirin is the peak of Vihren (2915 m). Near to Rilla and Pirin are the Rhodope Mountains. It is the largest one in whole southeast Europe, with a highest point called Goliam Perelik - 2191 m.

Mineral and termal water:  Bulgaria has plenty of mineral springs (over 500) and in reference to that it takes one of the leading positions in Europe.

Climate: Continental climate, the southest part of Bulgaria has mediterrane vegetation. The average temperature in summer is 23 degrees. Extremely high temperatures are rare. Duration of sun shining is about 2500 hours per year. In summer there are brief scattered showers. In winter there is snow about 150 days, from December to May and winter resorts offer great places for nice holiday. In North Bulgaria there is snow about 50/60 days.

  Flora

 In comparison with the most European countries, Bulgaria has а great variety of animal and plant species (over 3500). Over 1/4 of the country is covered with forests and 2/3 from them are natural. The oldest tree is the oak of the village of Granit(near to the town of Stara Zagora), which is about 1650 years old. Predominate in the country broadleaved forests from central European type-oak, beech-tree, ash-tree, sycamore and limes. From the coniferous there are pines, spruces and fir-trees. There are also many species of bushes as hawthorn, brier, sumac, lilac-shrub, etc. In the highest parts of the mountains grow alpine rose, edelweiss and juniper. There are a lot of herbs all over the country, and they could be exported.

Fauna

Animal world of Bulgaria is as various as Bulgarian relieve. Typical species for the Danube valley are coast swallows, wild geese and even hooded capes. Partridges, quails, larks and field mice can be found, too. In the forests of the Fore Balkan there are roes, stags and badgers. It is rare to find jackals, pheasants and martens. In broadleaved forests often could be seen squirrels. In alpine zone there are mainly reptiles, alpine crows, ossifrages and Imperial eagle. In the mountains there are also bears, foxes, wild goats, wolves and wild cats. On the coastline live sea-gulls, wild geese and kingfishers. In the Black Sea live dolphins, little sharks and seals. From freshwater fish you can see trout, carps and barbells. Cave fauna excites with its 350 various species of invertebrates. With the typical domestic animals there are also buffaloes, donkeys and hinnies.

 Food & Drinks

Food: Bulgarian meal is more than excellent and traditionally starts with cold entrees, a soup or a salad with rakia (Bulgarian traditional drink). Backed potatoes became traditional garnish. As a dessert there is a great choice of  sweets and Bulgarian cakes with cream. Typical Bulgarian dishes are:

-Shopska salad: cucumbers, tomatoes, onion, pepper, seasoning and cheese.

-Banitsa: warm baking with cheese staffing.

-Tarator: cold soup made of yoghurt and cucumbers.

-Kebapcheta: grilled meat rolls with a lot of spice

-Gjuvetch: it is made of meat, vegetables and potatoes.

-Kavarma: meat, potatoes, mushrooms,vegetabels and onion baked.

-Cabbage and vine leaves sarmi: leaves with stuffing of chopped meat, onion and rice.
Unique for Bulgarian cuisine honey, yoghurt, white cheese and kashkaval (cheese made of yoghurt).

Almost every region has its own  recipes and preparation ways.

Drinks: There is a traditional drink called rakia which is served before dining. It is made of grapes, plums, apricots or other fruits. Bulgarian alcohol drinks (rakia, cognac and anise flavored brandy- mastika) are famous all over the world. Almost every region has its own wine. In the surroundings of Sliven There is Cabernet sauvignon and Merlot., and near to Assenovgrad-red Mavrud. "Wines of Melnik" are famous and refined and come from the southwest Bulgaria. The most refined Bulgarian white wine are: Misket from Straldza, Traminer from Khan Krum, Dimiat and Sauvignon Blanc from Targovishte, etc. The most preferred beers are Zagorka, Kamenitsa, Astika and others. There are also imported beers or beers which are producing under licence.

 Holidays and traditions

 New Year's morning - Survakane: little children tap their parents' back with decorated cornel twigs.

Holly Eve 24 December: traditionally uneven numbers (7,9,11)  vegetarian dishes are served on the table, symbolizing people`s hope that next year will be as rich as the previous. Very important is a small loaf of bread with a coin in it. The person who takes the coin will have great luck next year.

Easter: it is famous for the eggs, painted in various colours and is beloved by children. Everybody has an Easter egg and there is a "fight" with them. It is believed that the owner of the not broken egg will be healthy all the year.

Yordanovden: on January 6 a man throws a wooden cross into the frozen waters of a river. Men must take it out.

Ivanovden: it is celebrated on January 7. That day newly-married couples visit their best men and bring them wine, rakia, roasted duck and banitsa.

14 February: a feast of vine-growers and wine. Then everybody starts cutting the vineyard.

1 March: it is unique with special gifts called "Baba Marta-martenitsi" - twisted red and white crewels.

They symbolize happiness and health and originate in ancient pagan traditions.

Tsvetnitsa: that feast is dedicated to all the people bringing names of flowers: Rose, Daisy, Lilly etc and it is on the Sunday before Eastern

3 March: national holiday of Bulgaria.

6 May: Gergiovden, the feast of Bulgarian Military and for people wich name is Georgy. The main dish is a roasted lamb.

6 December: Nikulden: the feast of the Fisherman, the main dish is a carp or another fish.