Bulgaria’s cultural lanscape

During the last few years Bulgaria has become an increasingly popular tourist destination. In the summers sun-starved tourists flock to the coastal resorts looking for sun, sea and cheap alcohol, while in the winter months, they head for the ski-resorts at Bansko or Pamporovo. But Bulgaria has so much more to offer than this...

By Mike Stock

Bulgarian music and art
Art has always played an integral part in the Bulgarians' daily life - from religious paintings to pottery and weaving - but perhaps the most important role is played by traditional folk music, which is still popular today.

There are many regional styles of folk music in Bulgaria and they all have their own distinctive sounds. Music plays an important role in festivities and celebrations like Christmas, New Year's Day, Midsummer, The Feast of St Lazarus, as well as at the Strandzha region's Nestinarstvo rites, at which villagers fall into a trance and dance upon hot coals as part of the joint feast of St Konstantin and Elena, on May 21st.

Bulgaria is perhaps especially famous for its women's choirs, with their distinctive edgy sound, unique rhythms and harmony, which have been used by performers like Kate Bush. The singing of a drone accompaniment underneath the melody is also common, especially in songs from the region around the Bulgarian capital Sofia and the Pirin.

Singing has long been a part of culture and tradition. Songs were often sung at work parties, and women had an extensive repertoire of choruses that they sang while working in the fields. The younger ones, who were eligible for marriage, played a particularly important role at the dancing in the village square. No doubt hoping to be noticed by some suitable admirer.

Modern day music
Although Bulgarians like many different styles of music, Chalga is perhaps the most popular. The word chalga means "musical instrument" and describes a type of musician who can play any music, but adding their own distinctive beat or rhythm to the song. Chalga is very popular at parties and weddings, but also in so-called "chalga dance clubs". But even if the Bulgarians think this is an interesting modern approach to pop, many are critical and think it is a bit on the sleazy side.

Baba Marta
At the end of February each year, relatives and friends give each other a red and white tassel called a ‘martenitsa'. Then on the first day of March, people put these martenitsas on their clothes or wrists and wish each other good health and happiness with the phrase: "Chestita Baba Marta" (Happy Grandma March). This is an ancient paegan tradition which symbolises the end of the cold winter and the coming of the spring. The martenitsas are later removed and tied to the first blossoming tree.

Kukeri
In the villages, the Kukeri is an important ritual originating from Thracian times. People dance and celebrate the last days of winter in order to bring in the spring. The festival is a prayer to the god of nature to bring a good harvest in the coming year.

The Festival of Roses
The Festival of Roses is celebrated during the first half of June in the Valley of Roses. The rose picking starts before dawn in order to preserve their fragrance. Two thousand petals are needed for a single gram of attar of roses. On the international market, 70 per cent of rose attar comes from Bulgaria.