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An exhibition in Plovdiv unveils the magic of traditional Bulgarian culture

Magic was part of life for Bulgarians of old, with numerous rituals for fertility, or to ward off disease, or to attract love. What were the beliefs in the Bulgarian lands? What were the characters and the items that played an important role in the..

updated on 3/16/23 1:28 PM

School for “lazarki” girls opens doors at Etar open-air ethnographic museum

Girls from Gabrovo and the surrounding area started training at the school for “lazarki” girls, BNR’s Velina Mahlebashieva reports.  The initiative, which has been helping preserve tradition for 10 years, belongs to the Etar ethnographic open-air..

published on 3/15/23 5:14 PM

Kukeri from Voynyagovo village demonstrate their skills in India

Some of the members of the band of kukeri from the Vasil Levski-1900 chitalishte (community culture club) in Voynyagovo village  are to present Bulgaria at a reception at the Bulgarian embassy in Delhi to mark this country’s national day, 3..

published on 3/1/23 6:30 AM

Day of traditions at the National Polytechnic Museum in Sofia

A fun workshop for martenitsas and textile printing has been organized today by the National Polytechnic Museum in Sofia (on 66 Opalchenska St.)  Visitors can make their own martenitsas and also step into the role of "master basmajji". Basmadji..

published on 2/25/23 8:30 AM

Surva masquerade festival is back with a bang in Pernik

For three days, the mining town of Pernik lived and breathed kukeri.   The 29 th International Festival of Masquerade Games Surva 2023 officially closed there yesterday, with a record number of participants from Bulgaria and abroad, Pernik..

updated on 1/31/23 10:30 AM

After a long lull, Surva Festival is back ready to captivate Pernik

Surva is here! After a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Kukeri, Chaushi, Arapi, Babugeri and other fairytale characters will once again chase the evil forces with a bang. The long-awaited festival of masquerade games will be held from January..

published on 1/27/23 10:29 AM

Kukeri from all over Bulgaria prepare for festival in Simitli

More than 7,000 people will take part in the XIX Kukeri Games Festival "Simitliya - The Ancient Land of Kukeri" this weekend (January 14-15) in the town of Simitli. Traditionally, every year on the second Saturday of January..

published on 1/14/23 7:10 AM

May you have a good life and health throughout the year and beyond!

For centuries the coming of the New Year has been one of the most important moments in Bulgarian tradition. It is more than a change of digits on the calendar, it is a borderline that has to be crossed, and it is crossed with a series of rituals and..

published on 1/1/23 1:05 AM

The day of St. Stephen closes the circle of Christmas feast days

As the legend has it, St. Stephen was fully devoted to his service. He was among the first 7 deacons, initiated by the first apostles. He was a wonderworker- he would put his hands on ill bodies and those would be healed in a miraculous manner. Elated..

published on 12/27/22 6:10 AM

The caroling tradition in the Bulgarian village of Pirgovo

Celebrating Christmas is one of the most important and most awaited days of the year. After the hard work of harvesting in the autumn and the preparation for the cold winter, the short and dark days of December seem to brighten with the festive..

published on 12/25/22 9:05 AM