Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

"St. George" or "Ederlezi" - the song that always accompanies St. George's Day

Photo: YouTube /Nina Nikolina

There are many songs in Bulgarian folklore about Saint George the Victorious. On May 6, however, an extremely popular Romani song called "Ederlezi" is often performed, as this is the Romani name of the holiday dedicated to the saint. We can easily call the song the anthem of the Roma in the Balkans. However, we can hear it performed in Greek, Serbian, Croatian, Turkish and of course, Bulgarian. The message is strongly related to the spring revival of life and hopes.

The song is part of the repertoire of a number of musicians in Bulgaria and around the world but today we offer you Nina Nikolina's version. The song is part of the "Tradition and Classic" project, in which Nina Nikolina partners with the orchestra of the State Opera - Ruse.

The recording is from a concert in Gabrovo held in 2020. The folk music and lyrics are in a new arrangement created by Kalin Velyov, Martin Tashev and Yasen Velchev. Conductor Georgi Miltiadov is the author of the orchestration of the melody.

Editor: E. Karkalanova 
Publication in English: Al. Markov


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

Tonika SV celebrates 45 years on stage

One of the most popular vocal groups of the 1980s, Tonika SV, is celebrating its 45th anniversary on stage with a grand concert in Sofia. The group is to perform its greatest hits on November 8, in Hall No 1 of the National Palace of Culture. Their..

published on 11/6/25 12:30 PM
Photo: Bulgarian Classical Concerts – Los Angeles

“Bulgarian Classical Concerts – Los Angeles” officially starts on November 6

The new nonprofit foundation Bulgarian Classical Concerts – Los Angeles , founded by two exceptionally successful and talented Bulgarian women – violinist Blagomira Lipari and composer Penka Kouneva – with the mission of promoting Bulgarian classical..

published on 11/6/25 11:50 AM

JazzBoree release original version of Bulgarian folk song "Rosni mi, rosni, Rositse"

The JazzBoree group continues the line of mixing Bulgarian folklore with expressive means characteristic of jazz. The musicians of the formation find the intersection between folklore and jazz precisely in the freedom of interpretation - this is exactly..

published on 11/5/25 3:30 PM