Podcast in English

Bulgarian embroideries from the National Revival Period featured in special catalog

Unique Bulgarian embroideries from the National Revival Period have been collected in a catalog by the Iskra Historical Museum in the town of Kazanlak. The luxury edition with rich images is called "Dyes and threads" and is one of the events..

published on 6/20/21 11:05 AM

Walnuts in folk songs and magical rituals

The walnut tree is one of the most common tree species in the Balkans. It also grows well in other European countries, as well as in Asia, North and South America. The walnut tree is one of the spring symbols of the nature reborn. The nuts are..

published on 6/13/21 6:10 AM

Ancient village of Dobarsko – a fount of surprises even for those who have come here before

Those who have once visited the village of Dobarsko want to come back again, because time is never enough to enjoy all local sights. The village reveals a stunning view of the entire Razlog Valley, the majestic Pirin Mountain and the..

published on 6/12/21 6:30 AM

Song about Hristo Botev

Revolutionary, poet, journalist, publisher. In his brief lifetime Hristo Botev wrote around 20 poems, even so the body of his work is considered to be the apex of Bulgarian literature. Deeply emotional, the verses he wrote when Vassil Levski..

published on 6/2/21 8:50 AM

A trip to the Rose Valley in the season of the “queen of flowers”

A legend has it that a Bulgarian who returned from Persia planted the first rose flower in Bulgaria’s Rose Valley. When the man was still in Persia, he fulfilled the will of a rich and powerful shah to build a mosque in the courtyard of his..

published on 5/28/21 4:30 PM

On May 24th Bulgarians celebrate spiritual development, culture and education

For Bulgarians, May 24 is one of the brightest days of the year. It is a celebration of spiritual elevation, of striving for perfection through the achievements of science and culture. On this day we celebrate the work of the educators of the..

published on 5/24/21 6:15 AM

Petrich Fortress touches the sky above the Avren Plateau

The late antique fortress of Petrich Kale has nothing to do with the town of Petrich in Southwestern Bulgaria. The fortification is located on the edge of the Avren Plateaue not far from Bulgaria’s sea capital Varna. Once, the fortress was..

published on 5/16/21 5:55 AM

Folkwise: beliefs and legends about the wind

An old legend has it that all winds are born on Christmas Еve and baptized before Epiphany. In Bulgarian folklore, winds are classified first according to the four cardinal directions. The wind coming from the north is called Northerner, or..

published on 5/15/21 6:00 AM

370 years since the printing of the first Bulgarian book "Abagar"

Bulgaria marks 370 years since the publication of the first Bulgarian printed book - the collection of prayers "Abagar" . The book consists of five large sheets in the form of scrolls, on which short apocryphal prayers are printed  . The sheets..

published on 5/6/21 4:33 PM

Why is the first Easter egg always red?

Tradition says that Easter eggs must be painted on Maundy Thursday by the oldest woman in the family. Wealthier households would dye 500-600 eggs – for all members of the family, for relatives and guests, for paupers and for travelers. Dyes..

published on 4/29/21 6:05 AM