Events in Bulgaria
Events in Bulgaria - The famous Sting appeared at Nessebar in 2006. Other more sedate events in Sunny Beach include The Golden Orpheus International Festival of Popular Song, the Decade of Symphonic Music, part of the International Folklore Festival, fashion-shows, as well as various beach competitions.
Events in Bulgaria - January to April
Festival of Masquerade Games Jan 25 - 27 2008
City of Pernik
The International Festival of Masquerade Games is held in the town of Pernik 30 kms south west of Sofia bi-annually in January.
This is the most important people's cultural event in the region. More than 5000 performers from all over Bulgaria, as well as formations from many European countries take part in the festival. It is an an illustration of the most vital and deep-rooted traditions of masquerading rites dating from the remote past and preserved for us to the present.
In ancient times the old Thracians held the Kukeri Ritual Games in honour of god Dionysus - the especially known as a god of wine and ecstasy. Even today these games are also known as the Dionysus' games. Among the Kukeri dancers' are many characters, including Dionysus and his satyrs as well as others from deep history such as the tsar, harachari, plyuvkachi, startzi, and pesyatzi.
There are people from Europe, Asia and Africa as well as representatives from every folklore region in Bulgaria who all come to Pernik to celebrate. They come here for the thrill of the competition and the pride of presenting the traditions of their ancestors.
The masked participants are called kukeri, kukove, survakari, startsi, babugeri, dzhamailari, kamilari, etc. They will dress in fur hides or in traditional women's costumes. They will dance for you in their fancy-dress.
The performance of the masked men, commonly known as Survakari or Kukeri, is a mystical union of rhythm, sound, and color. Wearing unique costumes and magnificent masks, they move around in their characteristic stride filling the air with the sounds of hundreds of bells, with songs, prayers and wishes.
During the international festival Bulgarian and foreign folk groups march in procession through Pernik; displaying exuberant costumes and fantastic masks to constant ring of bells and rattles. They are performing the ancient rite of chasing away evil and celebrating the triumph of reborn life with the beginning of spring and the associated hopes of man for better harvest and better life.
A jury consisting of ethnic, folk and culture specialists from Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, universities, the Pernik Historical Museum and others will evaluate the masquerade games performances in two categories: winter games and customs and pre-spring games and customs.
Trifon Zarezan
Trifon Zarezan on 14 February is the ancient festival of the wine growers. Vines are pruned and sprinkled with wine to ensure a bounteous harvest. On 1 March Bulgarians give one another martenitsi, red and white tasselled threads which are worn for health and happiness at the coming of spring. When wearers see their first stork of the season, the martenitsa is tied to the nearest tree.
At the Koprivshtitsa International Folk Festival, which is held every five years, some 4000 finalists compete for awards. Held as winter turns into spring, Kukeri is another festival, most avidly celebrated in the Rodopi Mountains.
Events in Bulgaria - May to June
Bulgarian Fanta Salsa Festival
Outdoor salsa dancers at the Bulgarian Salsa Festival
When:11 - 13 May 2007 (annual) Where:Sofia Princess Hotel Cost:Full pass €80; single tickets €3-€20
The Bulgarian Fanta Salsa Festival brings some of the world's top DJs, instructors and performers to Sofia for a weekend of salsa, bachata, rumba and reggeaton.
Dancing workshops, taught by high-profile instructors such as Swing Guys and Juan Matos, take place throughout the weekend, preparing visitors for the long and wild after parties. If you feel confident enough, enter the festival's salsa contest for a chance to attend the World Salsa Championship in Las Vegas later in the year.
A festival pass gives you access to all workshops, parties and galas, but it's also possible to buy individual tickets. Please visit the festival website for the full programme details.
Related Information
Website:Bulgaria Salsa Festival Website
http://www.bgsalsafiesta.com
Festival of Roses
Rose picking in the Valley of the Roses
When:May - Jun 2007 (annual) Where:Kazanluk
In Bulgaria the rose is a symbol of youth, beauty and health. Of the thousands of different varieties in the world, only three or four produce oil. Of these, the Kazanluk rose, which has been produced in the Valley of the Roses for over 300 years, is the best. This traditional event celebrates its harvest in the town of Kazanluk.
The Kazanluk rose yields 70 per cent of the world's attar of roses (rose oil), which is an essential ingredient in perfume production.
In late May and early June every year the rose-picking season starts in the valley, which stretches between the Balkan Range and the Sredna Gora Mountains. Picking starts at dawn, before sunrise and before the rose fragrance has had a chance to disappear.
This is the time of the Festival of Roses, which usually takes place on the first weekend in June. The festivities begin on Friday night with a parade and exhibitions of dancing from youth groups across Bulgaria and Eastern Europe. The carnival begins and continues on Saturday, when there is a competition to find the best local dance troupe and a choral concert in Shipka Cathedral in the evening. Usually there is a new art exhibition at the Archaeological Museum and Art Gallery to coincide with the event.
On Sunday the celebration takes place in the rose fields, with singing, dancing and ritual rose picking by children and adults dressed in traditional costume before everyone heads to the Rose Museum for the ritual crowning of the Rose Queen.
Young women carry bread and rose liquor as offerings to the Rose King and Queen and VIPs. Outside the Kukeries begin - masked men and boys in traditional costumes with huge bells hanging from their arms, hips and ankles make plenty of noise and have a lot of fun to mark the end of the event.
Related Information
Website:Rose Festival Website
http://www.rose-festival.com/
Balgari - Fire Dancing
In the mountains to the south of Sunny Beach is the village of Balgari renowned for the still practised custom of nestinarstvo, or fire dancing. Traditionally associated with the feast day of Konstantin and Elena (which is celebrated here on June 4th, or the nearest weekend), ...... more
Ladouvane Festival
When June/December: The "Ladouvane Festival", the "Singing to Rings", goes back to ancient myths and fertility rites. Young girls and women of marriageable age place rings, evergreen plants, oats and barley - symbols of fertility - in a cauldron of spring water. After a period of 24 hours and a ritual dance, the young women are foretold their futures. (Dates vary according to region: around 24 June and on New Year's Eve)
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