Liberation Day
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Friday March 3, 2023
Secular holiday : Restoration of the third Bulgarian kingdom after almost 500 years of Ottoman rule. The treaty of San Stefano, signed on March 3 1878, was the milestone of this process and the day remains one of the most celebrated in Bulgarias history. The San Stefano treaty ended the Russo-Turkish war, which started in 1877. Paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday
Horse Easter (Todorovden)
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Saturday March 4, 2023
Culture : The Day of St Theodore, celebrated by the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, also known as Horse Easter.
Mothers' Day
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Wednesday March 8, 2023
cards/flowers :
Holocaust Remembrance Day
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Friday March 10, 2023
Culture :
Sofia International Film Festival
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Thursday March 16, 2023
Culture : Lasts 10 days http://siff.bg/ in Sofia 2023 edition confirmed
Daylight Saving Time
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Sunday March 26, 2023
Special Events : At 1:00 am local times
April Fools Day
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Saturday April 1, 2023
cards/flowers : As the story goes, in 1564, France was one of the first nations to make January 1 officially New Year's Day, instead of the last week of March which was previously observed. In 1582, the Pope followed suit. Those who went on celebrating April 1st were mocked. As the zodiacal sign was the fish, The French placed dead fish on the backs of one another. Traditions vary from country to country.
Parliamentary election
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Sunday April 2, 2023
Special Events :
Spring holiday (beginning)
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Friday April 7, 2023
School holidays :
Palm Sunday
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Sunday April 9, 2023
Culture :
Good Friday
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Friday April 14, 2023
Orthodox : In Bulgaria, together with Christmas, Good Friday and Easter are the holiest days in the Orthodox calendar, and are observed with great solemnity.
Churches all over the country are serving masses to mourn the crucified son of God.
Fasting is especially strict on this day - the Church advises believers not to have any food at all, and to not even drink water. Few Bulgarians, however, are usually that strict.
Orthodox Holy Saturday
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Saturday April 15, 2023
Orthodox : Not a paid holiday
Orthodox Easter
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Sunday April 16, 2023
Orthodox : Paid holiday
Orthodox Easter Monday
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Monday April 17, 2023
Orthodox :
Spring holiday (end)
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Monday April 17, 2023
School holidays :
End of Ramadan (may be changed to the nearest day)
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Saturday April 22, 2023
cards/flowers : The month of Ramadan is that in which was revealed the Quran; a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the criterion (of right and wrong). And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month, and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, a number of other days. Allah desires for you ease; He desires not hardship for you; and that you should complete the period, and that you should magnify Allah for having guided you, and that perhaps you may be thankful [Wikipedia]
Labor Day/May Day
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Monday May 1, 2023
Secular holiday : Chicago, Saturday May 1st, 1886: 350,000 workers go on strike to call for an 8-hour working day. Industries are paralyzed nationwide. On Monday, as demonstrations go on, the police open fire. On Tuesday, Chicago is again on strike. Following a bomb launched against them, the police shoot again. 12 dead, of which 7 policemen. 8 anarchists will be condemned and executed. In 1889, the Socialist International Movement met in Paris and declared this day international workers' day . The Soviets will follow suit, just as the Nazis. In France, under the Vichy regime (1940-1944), the celebration is renamed Labour Day .
Bravery Day
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Friday May 5, 2023
Culture : Saint George's Day. The feast was established with a decree of Prince Alexander of Battenberg in 1880. On this day, the Bulgarians praise the brave acts of the Bulgarian military men who fought across the battlefields over the years.
St George's Day / Army Day
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Saturday May 6, 2023
Secular holiday : Saint George (ca 275/280-April 23, 303) was a soldier of the Roman Empire and later a Christian martyr. Later, he became associated with the legend of a mythical dragonkiller. Wikipedia
St George's Day / Army Day
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Monday May 8, 2023
Secular holiday : Saint George (ca 275/280-April 23, 303) was a soldier of the Roman Empire and later a Christian martyr. Later, he became associated with the legend of a mythical dragonkiller. Wikipedia
National Day of the Vlachs
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Tuesday May 23, 2023
Culture :
Bulgarian Alphabet and Culture Day
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Wednesday May 24, 2023
Secular holiday : Cyril and Methodius were two brothers born in Thessaloniki in the Byzantine Empire in the 9th century, who became missionaries of Christianity in Khazaria and Great Moravia. They both perfected a Slavonic alphabet which is now known as the Cyrillic alphabet in which they translated the liturgy. Cyrillic alphabet is used in Russian, Bulgaria, Serbia & Montenegro.
National Day of the Natural Parks
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Thursday June 8, 2023
Culture : Cleaning and repair works on the infrastructure of all 11 natural parks on the territory of the country. By tradition, thousands of people join the campaign.
Summer holiday (beginning)
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Thursday June 15, 2023
School holidays : 16/05/2023 – XIIth year (13 academic weeks)
31.05.2023 – Class I - III (14 academic weeks)
15.06.2023 – Class IV – VI (16 academic weeks)
30.06.2023 – Class V - VI (18 academic weeks for courses in sports schools)
30.06.2023 – Grades VII - XI (18 academic weeks + 2 or 4 weeks of production practice in the period 01.07. - 31.08.2023
for classes with vocational training or with a dual education system in grades X and XI)
Eid-ul-Adha - Feast of the Sacrifice (may be changed to the nearest day)
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Thursday June 29, 2023
cards/flowers :
Regional holiday
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Monday July 17, 2023
Secular holiday : The first settlement here was founded in the end of 4th or the 3rd millenium BC in Sozopol only
El am Hejir New Year (may be changed to the nearest day)
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Wednesday July 19, 2023
cards/flowers :
Day of Commemoration of the Victims of the Crimes Committed by Communist and other Totalitarian Regimes
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Wednesday August 23, 2023
Culture :
Apollonia Festival
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Friday August 25, 2023
Culture : Lasts 10 days - in Sozopol please check dates: http://www.apollonia.bg
International Cycling Tour of Bulgaria
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Sunday August 27, 2023
Sports events : Www.les-sports.info 2023 edition confirmed
National Day of Tourism
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Sunday August 27, 2023
Culture : Dedicated to the first organized and mass climbing of the Cherni Vruh peak in the Vitosha Mountain near Sofia.
The mass climbing has taken place on August 27, 1985 after the famous Bulgarian writer Aleko Konstantinov publishes his article and invitation under the title To the Sofia Lovers of Bulgarian Nature.
Summer holiday (end)
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Tuesday September 5, 2023
School holidays :
Union Day
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Wednesday September 6, 2023
Secular holiday : Commemorates the unification of Eastern Rumelia and Bulgaria (1885). Eastern Rumelia was part of the Ottoman Empire. Bulgarians established in Rumelia revolted against the Turks and united the province with Bulgaria.
Mid-term holiday (end)
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Thursday September 7, 2023
School holidays :
St. Sofia
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Sunday September 17, 2023
Culture : Orthodox world pays homage to the Holy Martyrs Sofia and her three daughters Faith, Hope and Love.
St. Sofia Day is the official holiday of the eponymous Bulgarian capital. in Sofia only
Independence Day
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Friday September 22, 2023
Secular holiday : Proclaimed on 22nd September, 1908 (from Turkey). Not a paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday
DIEMA XTRA Sofia Open
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Monday September 25, 2023
Sports events : Https://www.sofiaopen.diemaxtra.bg/ Tennis cup 2023 edition confirmed