Culture in Bulgaria
The Bulgarian culture is a vibrant mix of mostly Thracian, Slavic and Bulgar cultures, although there are also influences from the Greek, Turkish and Byzantine Empires. Bulgaria is located on the crossroads between the East and the west, and over the years has been inhabited by various tribes and civilizations that helped develop the rich and colourful cultural heritage you can see today. The Bulgarians built their own unique customs, traditions, rituals, arts, songs and fairy tales, which were all influenced by the many settlers and travellers.
Bulgarian music has its own distinctive sound, and stems from the Balkans. There are many different regional styles of music in Bulgaria, and they use a wide range of instruments. Folk music has always been part of celebrations such as festivals, weddings and ceremonies. Singing has been a tradition for men and women, as has dancing. Balkan folk dance is very complex with its rhythms, and is very popular throughout the country during festival celebrations.
Bulgaria is primarily a Christian country, since it adopted Christianity in 865, with the dominant confession being Eastern Orthodox of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Islam was established in Bulgaria during the Ottoman rule of the Balkans. Roman Catholicism has roots in the country since the Middle Ages, and Protestantism arrived in the 19th century. Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is known as the ‘Triangle of Religious Tolerance’ with its different religious buildings located within metres of each other.
Bulgarian cuisine is just as variable as its culture and religion. It has grown from a wealth of local and foreign traditions, and has its own characteristics and originality. Kavarma is an old and traditional Bulgarian recipe of a slow cooked stew containing chopped meat and vegetables. It is considered to be a good representation of Bulgarian food. Bulgaria is world renowned for its yoghurt and white cheese which has been produced in the country since ancient times. ‘Arjan’, a beverage made of mixing water with yoghurt is very popular among the Bulgarians. The Bulgarian menu will vary highly with the change of seasons, with different fresh meat and vegetables used at different times of year.