Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

“Shumi Maritsa” – the anthem of unified Bulgaria

Photo: archive

An emblematic march traditionally sounds in Bulgaria on Unification Day. The Bulgarian volunteers who fought in the Russo-Turkish War of 1878-1878 sang this song. Later, the tune inspired the soldiers at the battlefields during the Balkan Wars.

“Bulgarians, the whole world is watching. Into a winning battle let’s gloriously go! March, march with our general, let’s fly into battle and crush the enemy! Forward”, read part of the song’s lyrics.

Nikola Zhivkov, a famous educator, publicist, author of textbooks and creator of the first kindergarten in Bulgaria, wrote the lyrics of the song when he was among the Bulgarian volunteers of the Serbian-Turkish war that broke out in 1876. After the Unification of Bulgaria in 1885, Shumi Maritsa (Maritsa Rushes) became the official anthem of Bulgaria. It was a national anthem from 1886 until 1947. The lyrics of the song underwent a major revision by poet Ivan Vazov in 1912.

When the Hungarian Revolution of 1948 was suppressed, a large group of Hungarians, including Lajos Kossuth, settled in Shumen. Musician Mihai Shafran, the founder of the first Bulgarian orchestra, was among them. One of the popular melodies performed by this orchestra was used for the making of the music of Shumi Maritsa.

The popular version of the anthem is a remake of the famous Bulgarian composer Aleksandar Tanev

Wrongly considered one of the symbols of the monarchic rule, the anthem was temporarily banned in the past.

After the political changes in 1989, Shumi Maritsa was included in the list of this country’s patriotic marches again and has been sounding on all national holidays.


English version: Kostadin Atanasov



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Irina Florin - ''Po Blizo''

Irina Florin, who appeared on the Bulgarian music stage in the early 1980s, became one of the icons of the Bulgarian pop genre in the 1990s. Her latest song, titled "Po-blizo" (Closer), once again tells a story about love. The song combines a modern..

published on 10/17/24 8:10 AM

Thousands bid last farewell to rock legend Kiril Marichkov

Thousands of fans, relatives and friends of the Bulgarian rock legend Kiril Marichkov flocked to the capital's Saint Sophia church to bid their last farewell to the beloved musician. At the same time, fans of Marichkov throughout the country organize..

published on 10/15/24 4:16 PM

Lubo Kirov about the choices in love

Bulgarian pop singer Lubo Kirov has presented the latest single from his new album. It's a rock explosion titled " Poslednoto reshenie " ("The Final Decision"). For the creation of the song Lubo worked once again with guitarist and music producer..

published on 10/14/24 6:16 PM