Guide: all countries » Bulgaria » Sofia » Traditions and festivals

Colors of Sofia - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Local culture strikes with an abundance of beautiful customs and traditions, interesting festivals and rituals, many of which have pagan roots. An acquaintance with local culture is an integral part of the holiday for many tourists; from the very first days of their stay in Sofia they are charmed with unique national spirit. Many travelers come to visit the city on the New Year’s Eve; this holiday is celebrated on a noble scale. The local name of the holiday is ‘Surva Godin.’ Like many years ago, New Year celebration is accompanied by a mass of symbolic events.
Guide to Sofia sightseeing - things to see and to visit
Bulgaria's capital, Sofia is a city rich in history, many notable places and spectacular natural landscapes. In the center of town is located Slaveykov Square, from which diverge beautiful … Open
On the feast young people go for a walk along the streets in colorful costumes of animals; according to the tradition New Year outfits are decorated with survakari bells. It is believed that ringing bells attached to a belt helps to fight evil and bring good luck, so survakari are among the most popular New Year gifts. The celebration of 1st of March, the Feast of the arrival of spring, is beautiful and symbolic.
This festival also has its own symbols - small ornaments of red and white threads called martenicas. It is common to give hand-woven jewelry as a gift to the family and friends; it is fixed to the clothing. There are special carnival festivities in Sofia; here this holiday is called Sirnitza. The main festive meal is halva; this sweet dish is a prime example of the unique combination of Slavic and Eastern cultures. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
Cuisine of Sofia for gourmet with top restaurants and cafe
You could find restaurants of any cuisine in Sofia. Travelers will enjoy local eating places and attractive prices. Among the most prestigious dining places the L'etranger international … Open
According to the Eastern interpretation, halva is a symbol of a sweet and happy life. Slavs also perceive dish produced from sunflower seeds and associate it with money in the house. During the festival, mass of colorful performances and competitions, which also shows a clear influence of pagan traditions, are held on city streets. Each national holiday is an amazing action, which has being enriched with interesting and symbolic traditions for hundreds of years. Residents of the city will gladly introduce the diversity of cultural traditions for travelers. Every foreigner will feel welcome at local festivals.
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National traditions of Bulgaria

Bulgaria is a very popular tourist destination due to the cordiality and hospitality of the locals. Hospitable Bulgarians greet visitors of their country with special attention. Tourists feel incredibly comfortable in the country. Bulgaria is a Slavic country, a secular state with freedom of religion. More than 70 percent of the population professes Orthodoxy. This Orthodox Church affected the culture and customs of locals. The ancestors of the Bulgarians are the Thracians, an ancient flourishing civilization, and the Slavs, who, having mixed with the Thracian people created the modern population of Bulgaria. … Open

Traditions and festivals in cities around Sofia

Plovdiv
It is worth visiting International Field Days Bulgari for those who came to the city for work related to agriculture. It takes place at the local Agricultural University in early May. Current and future students should visit the International Scientific Conference ... Open »
Kavala
Without a doubt, the family is the main treasure of every resident of Kavala. Elderly people are always respected and kids are cherished. Locals tend not to notice small faults of their kids and try not to punish them. Mothers are also particularly respected in every ... Open »
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki holds annually various holidays and festivals. Original country holidays will be of great pleasure for eager dancing fans, gastronomy tourism enthusiasts and modern cinema art admirers. In the middle of December the resort is visited by latina dancing fans ... Open »
Bucharest
March 1 is the time for a beautiful celebration that signifies the beginning of spring season - Bucharest celebrates the arrival of spring. This celebration is known as one of the oldest, so there are many good traditions and rituals connected with it. Martisor remains ... Open »
Belgrade
European customs are also widely accepted by the indigenous people. When men meet each other, it’s absolutely normal to greet each other with a handshake, regardless of what religion they follow. Good friends and relatives may greet each other with a hug, but such ... Open »
Burgas
Habits and traditions of local people are quite peculiar and so they might look quite strange to some foreign travelers. For example, local people move their head from one side to another as a sign of agreement, and they can nod when they do not agree with the opinion ... Open »
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