Colors of Nessebar - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Local culture, traditions and customs of local folks will seem original and unique to people strange to Bulgarian culture. Nesebar is a unique destination in every aspect: its national architecture, special fests and holidays, music traditions, domestic lifestyle. Walking through the city streets one will notice numerous scenic sights and scapes featuring original buildings and miniature houses. Almost every house features a small porch or an open air terrace. This part of the house and yard is one of the most important features of local architecture and style. Most of city houses are two-storeyed buildings meanwhile three-storeyed buildings are rather rare in the area.

All ethnic festivals and holidays are accompanied with music and dance concerts and performances. Traditionally all the participants of the bands and music folk groups are clad in bright ethnic costumes. The style of the festival costumes is considered to be inherited from the casual wear which the local wore for several centuries ago. Folk women suit is considered to be a woolen dress named “sukman” meanwhile men during fests and holidays wear tunic like white shirts and woolen trousers.

An essential attribute of both men and women folk costumes is a colored belt which is tightened with massive silver buckle. Many women wear bright aprons on the dress – folk costumes look bright and impressive. Local folks are rather friendly and amiable. They are always ready to help foreign guests to grasp the peculiarities of local culture telling them about lots of interesting original customs. Folk costumes are still the most popular souvenirs among tourists. Some original suits can be bought as on local markets so in numerous souvenir stores. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Considering local traditions one can not leave ethnic cuisine out of sight. In the heart of ethnic dishes one will find various vegetables and sea foods, meat dishes are rather rare, but are also well presented on the menu of local eating houses serving ethnic cuisine. The main secret of wellness and vivacity local people considered to be cultured milk foods as these are in the basis of the daily diet and nutrition of local folks. Winery plays an important role in local cuisine traditions. Any meal is surely added with a glass of astonishing wine of local production. Bulgarian wines are rather popular all over the world. Tourists visiting Nesebar will get a chance to set on tour to one of the local wineries

The resort town hosts great festivals through which everyone can get acquainted with the local culture. The festival season opens in early June with a folk event called “Nesebrski Nakit”. The event is held at the Community Hall Yana Laskova. The goal of the festival is to preserve the cultural heritage of Bulgaria. Besides local groups and artists, they also invite performers from other countries (mainly from Eastern Europe). The colorful event invites you to enjoy not only traditional folk songs and dances but also their modern interpretations.

Those who come in the middle of the first summer month are equally lucky, as they can witness the Sun Joy Beauty Festival at the Ancient Theatre. It is located in the center of the resort’s tourist life - the Old Town lying on a small peninsula by the shore of the Black Sea. Therefore, a visit to the festival can be combined with a city tour and sightseeing. The festival is aimed at demonstrating the talents of children and adolescents. They become participants in this festival and try their best showing all their musical and dance skills.

Those visiting Nessebar at the beginning of the second summer month have a great opportunity to attend a festival called “Nessebar - Island of Arts”. The venue is the above-mentioned Ancient Theater that welcomes young performers and groups arriving not only from different regions of Bulgaria but also from other parts of the world (mainly from Eastern Europe). This event is a wonderful opportunity to discover new names in music and dance, as well as get acquainted with Bulgarian and other cultures, as the main focus is put on folk songs and dances - both in traditional and contemporary styles.

The festival season in the resort town ends with an event taking place at the end of August called the Constellations in Nessebar. The venue is the same Ancient Theater so it'd be a good idea to combine attending the festival with a tour. At this time, visitors have a great opportunity to watch dance performances, listen to music concerts of local and foreign talents. The bulk of the participants are children and teenagers demonstrating the culture of their homeland.