HARMONY ESTATES

About Bulgaria

Beginning За България

ABOUT BULGARIA

The Republic of Bulgaria is situated in the South-East part of Europe and more specifically in the eastern part of the Balkan peninsula. North it has a border with Romania, on West with Yugoslavia, on South-West with Macedonia, on the South with Greece and on South-East withTurkey. On the East the country is bounded by the Black Sea.

Facts
Territory: 111 000 square kilometers
Population: 8 000 000 (according to population count taken in 2000)
Capital City: Sofia, (close to 2,000,000 inhabitants)
Bigger Cities: Plovdiv (480 00 inhabitants), Varna (450 000 inhabitants), Bourgas (250 000 inhabitants), Stara Zagora (130 000 inhabitants), Rousse (120 000 inhabitants), Pleven (120 000 inhabitants)
International Airports: Sofia, Varna, Bourgas
Monetary Unit: LEV (BGL); 1 EUR = 2 BGL, with bills of
1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 leva.
Official Language: Bulgarian
Religion: Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Catholicism
National Holiday: March 3
 

History

The Bulgarian lands are ancient crossroads which have been home to many civilizations and great peoples. Among the many archeological discoveries are the tombs near Kazanluk and Sveshtariand, the gold treasures from Panagyurishte and Rogozen, and the necropolis in Varna, dated back to 4000 years B.C. (it has preserved the oldest known worked gold in the world). There are also numerous Roman, Greek and Byzantine historical monuments that take us back to Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages. The Bulgarians have preserved their history and have given to the world the first Slavic alphabet (created by Cyril and Methodius), their calendar and much more. The contemporary Bulgarian culture is unique with its great achievements in art, music, literature and architecture.
Important Historical Dates:
681 – Creation of Bulgaria as a state
885 - Cyril and Methodius create the Slavonic script
864 - 866 - Bulgaria adopts Christianity
1018- 1185 - Bulgaria falls under the rule of the Byzantine Empire
1185 - Restoration of the Bulgarian state
1396 - 1878 - Bulgaria falls under Turkish Yoke
1878 - 1944 - Bulgaria becomes a constitutional monarchy
1944 - 1989 - Bulgaria becomes a people’s republic
10 th of November, 1989 - Bulgaria becomes a parliamenary republic

Culture
Bulgaria's traditions are strongly influenced by the agriculture which is expressed in its festivals and celebrations. The customs are celebrated with rituals colored by songs and dances.
Most of the cities and towns throughout Bulgaria have annual festivals of some sort. There can mostly be seen events for pop, rock, jazz and folk music; the theatres offer the choice of opera, ballet and dance, plays and fine arts. Most take place during the summer and each year they attract more and more international participation.

These are the biggest cultural events:
Jan 1- New Year's Holiday
Feb 14- St. Trifon's Day on which wine grower's celebrate by trimming the vines. This tradition dates back to theThracians
March 1- Baba Marta which represents the arrival of spring celebrated by exchanging and wearing red and white tassled "martenitsas", good luck charms for health and fertility in people, young animals and fruit trees
March 3- Liberation Day
Late March - Kukerov Den, celebrated on the first Sunday before Lent, on that day masked men (koukeri) wearing grotesque masks perform ritualistic dances to scary off evil spirits
April - St Lazar's Day- Single girls perform ritual songs and dances for finding a good match for marriage
Late April- Orthodox Easter
May 1- Labor Day
May 6 - St George’s Day is the official day of the Bulgarian Army and the farmers
May 21- Saints Constantine and Elena Day (arrival of summer) celebrated by the custom called Nestinarstvo (fire dancing) in which participators walk barefoot on hot coals. It is believed the ritual was practiced by theThracians.
May 24 - National Day of Culture and Education celebrates the creation of the Cyrillic alphabet by Kyril and Methodius.
Sept 22 - Independence Day
Dec 8- University Students Day - The biggest event of the year for present and former university students
Dec 24, 25, 26 - Christmas Days

Bulgarian Cuisine
Biggest part in the Bulgarian cuisine take meat and potatoes, although several of the most popular dishes are cheese-based. A popular dish is Shopska salad (tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, roasted peppers,topped by white sheep cheese called sirene). Another traditional salad is Snezhanka (yogurt, cucumbers, garlic).
Very distinctive meat and vegetable dishes are those baked in covered clay pots, such as Kapama and Kavarma. Other meat dishes are Koufte and Kebabche (grilled meatballs). Few dishes speak of the Turkish influence in the Bulgarian cuisine, like Koupolo (eggplant salad) and Sarmi (stuffed grape leaves with rice and meat). Variety of fish and sea food is found in the Black Sea and in the numerous rivers, lakes, and dames.
Just about any fruit and vegetable can be found almost year-round on the street markets. A very popular dessert is Palachinka (crepe) that comes with various fillings.
A popular breakfast is Banitsa (baked pastry filled with cheese) and Boza (a non-alcoholic malted beverage that dates several centuries back).
One of the country’s prime export is wine. Good representatives of the white wines are Chardonnay and Traminer and from the red wines Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and some local wines called Melnik and Mavrud. The beer in this country is presented by some great brands like Zagorka, Kamenitza, etc. The traditional spirit, Rakia, is a home made brandy consumed with Meze (variety of appetizers) and salad.

Climate
Bulgaria has four distinct seasons. Summers areusually hot and dry with moderate humidity. Winters are cold but not bitter. The Mediterranean influences the climate on the Black Sea cost and the country's mountain groups play a significant part in determining the inner climate.
In the capital, Sofia, daytime temperatures average 30C in July-August and 3C in January. The rainiest months are April,May and November in the inside of the country and June, October and December along the coast. In the summer, the coast enjoys sunshine with daytime high temperatures averaging 30C and water temperatures around 73-23-25C. In the mountains the average snow coverage is 30-140 cm.

Health
Although the appearance of Bulgaria’s public health facilities is not appealing, the level of professional service is very high.
To buy any sorts of medicine go to one of the many well-stocked pharmacies (Apteka). Be prepared to point out what you want since not all pharmacies have an English speaking personnel. In addition to drugs, most pharmacies sell toiletries, diet products, cosmetics, baby and feminine products.
For emergency medical treatment find the nearest hospital or dial 150. If you have the option, a taxi also would be a dependable means of being transported quickly.

Banks and Money
Banks and change bureaus exchange most foreign currencies in exchange of a small commission or fee. The banks cash out traveler's checks and credit card cash advances as well. Bank ATMs can be found everywhere in a major city or resort. Major credit cards can be used in some hotels, restaurants and shops, but are not widely used yet. Bulgaria is still mostly a cash economy. Accepted cards are Eurocard, Diners Club, Mastercard, Visa and few others. Banks are open on week days from 9am to 4pm. Many change bureaus work every day.
ATTENTION: Beware of the street dealers who offer more favorable rates because most of them cheat. Do not exchange money outside banks and change bureaus.
Change bureaus are a good place to change money as long as you do not run into one that is going to charge you a big commission on your transaction (6-8%, normally).

Politics of Bulgaria
Bulgaria is a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Prime Minister is the head of government. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the National Assembly. The Judicial power is independent of the Executive and the Legislative powers.

Useful Tips
When invited to someone's home it is a common courtesy to take flowers and they should be an odd number (3, 5 or 7 stems) because even number are taken only at funerals.

Many public places charge small fees to use their washrooms, usually 0,10-0,50 leva.

Tap water is safe to drink but not tasty. Bottled mineral water is available everywhere.

Work hours
Offices and government services - Mon-Fri 9:00 – 18:00.

The electricity current is 220 volt; 50 hertz and the plugs are twin-prong

Time Zone is GMT+2 hrs; CET+1 hr.

Important Phone Numbers:
Police 166
Ambulance 150
Fire 160
Intl operator 0123
Directory for office phone numbers 144