March 21 is the day of the city of Kyustendil (Southwestern Bulgaria). The festival is known as "Kyustendil Spring" and recreates an ancient local tradition that combined cult practices of the Thracians and Romans in their veneration of solar deities and healers Asclepius, Hygia, Telesphorus, Apollo and Dionysus with the interpretations of the Christian legend of the forty holy martyrs and the hill related to ancient rituals and situated above the city - “Hisarluk”. In 1966, the tradition of "Kyustendilska Spring" pageant began. The participating girls symbolize the gentle steps which spring comes with; youth and new hope, like the three Charites (goddesses of beauty and gaiety) seen on the ancient plates found under Hisarluk. The "Kyustendil Spring" is also the first pageant in this country. This year, on the eve of the city's holiday, the 56th winner of the title was also chosen - Monika Yordanova.

Kyustendil – more than fresh air and mineral baths

In our "Song of the Day", we have chosen a folk tune from Kyustendil. Folk singer Olga Borisova is the most prominent representative of this region of Bulgaria. In 2021, speaking to "Radio Bulgaria", in one of her last media appearances before leaving this world, Olga Borisova said: "In my youth I was always in a hurry... Now I appreciate what a great happiness it has been throughout my life to sing Bulgarian folk songs. I am grateful and bow to the creative genius of our people!".

Folk songs are works of genius: singer Olga Borisova

For decades, Olga Borisova had been a soloist of the famous Ensemble for Folk Songs of the BNT and BNR, which gained worldwide fame under the name "The Mystery of Bulgarian Voices." Hundreds of her songs are preserved in the funds of BNR and BNT and her voice can be heard in the albums of Swiss producer Marcel Celier, one of which received the prestigious "Grammy" music award in 1991. Olga Borisova's name entered the Encyclopedia of World Music, published in London, back in 1994. She is an honorary citizen of Kyustendil and holder of the Honorary Sign of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria.

We offer you a song performed by Olga Borisova called "Lepa Yano" ("Beautiful Yano"). It is a beautiful ballad revealing the sorrow of a young girl for her lover, who became a haidutin (a fighter for freedom and justice) and "ran into the forest." The advice of the falcon whom the girl was talking to was: "Go find him and wave the banner bravely."