The Sofia Breathes Festival for urban culture and nature-friendly thinking is underway for a sixth year in a row. On each August Sunday a different point in the center of Sofia hosts a fair of artists, craftsmen and producers. Every week the theme is different. The festival's opening Sunday at the Little Five Corners intersection highlighted ecology. Visual arts will dominate Sofia Breathes on 9 August in Pirotska Str. August 16 is the day of literature as the festival occupies Angel Kantchev Str. And contemporary writers are expected to come over and talk to visitors. The date 23 August is reserved for sport lovers who have been invited to join Sofia Breathes in Tsar Ivan Shishman Str. The festival closes on the last Sunday of August with music and dancing in Oborishte Str.

The environmental theme was presented through the participation of producers of organic products. One of the attractions was a demonstration of rolling dough for pasta by Granny Kalinka from Petritch, Southwestern Bulgaria. Anyone willing was welcome to join the demonstration. Albena Georgieva, the daughter of Granny Kalinka, talked about the problems of small producers:

“Problems arise from that the state has very tough requirements for small producers. In Bulgaria it is worth being a big producer and being a small one is meaningless. Here is another big stumbling block: part of homemade products cannot be sold at food stores because these have not been made in a workshop. The state postulates that if you want to make homemade pasta you have to set up a workshop for pasta, and if you also make jam, you have to set up the respective workshop. This is absurd: how can a small business run a few workshops? Something should be done about the way small producers could market more freely their products.”

Julia Slavkova, a honey producer, argues that there is ever growing interest in organic products.

“The most interesting thing I see is that there are many young people with kids coming, and from an early age there is an interest in organic products. When they taste hazelnut tahini with honey, they exclaim, 'Well, this is better than chocolate!' Children certainly enjoy the natural taste of products.”

Alexander Slavov, a beekeeper, has joined the festival for the third time.

“This is a very nice, refreshing festival, with so many smiling people and good weather. The streets hosting it look so European. There are no age limits. I've seen very young children and many elderly visitors too.”

No one from the producers at the festival has aimed at big profits. What matters more to them is the chance to meet with new people. Here is Zlatina Dimcheva:

“One can sense an ongoing change in the thinking of people. They have increasingly turned to nature and care more for their health. There are many young people with children. For the customers of organic products it is important to be personally introduced to the producer. This is where trust comes from. A simple label claim or a certificate are no longer enough for them. Sofia Breathes is a wonderful festival offering plenty of opportunity to producers like us.”

The environmental theme has not limited the festival. Apart from organic producers there were also jewel designers, potters and craftsmen. One could see and buy traditional carpets and workshops were organized especially for children. To cut a long story short, Sofia Breathes gives the city what it needs most in August: charm, fun and individuality.

English Daniela Konstantinova