Most Bulgarians expect to marry and have children. The average age for women to marry is between 18 and 25. Men tend to marry when somewhat older.

DIET AND EATING

Pork and lamb are the most common meats, and dairy products such as yoghurt and cheese figure prominently in the diet. Popular main meals include moussaka (a dish made with minced meat, potatoes, onions, and yoghurt) and nadenitsa (stuffed pork sausage). Kufteta is a fried meat patty mixed with breadcrumbs. Sarmi is vine leaves or cabbage stuffed with pork and rice. Grilled meat (skara), such as shishcheta (skewered lamb), is very popular, especially in restaurants. Shopska is a salad made with cerene (Bulgarian cheese), cucumbers, and tomatoes. A favourite cold soup is tarator, which includes cucumbers, yoghurt, garlic, dill, walnuts, and oil. Cheese banitsa (a layered pastry) is eaten as a snack or for breakfast. Popular desserts include pumpkin banitsa, cakes, and baklava (a thin, leafy pastry with a syrup and nut filling). Coffee is usually either espresso or Turkish style. Meals are usually accompanied by a soft drink, alcohol, or coffee. Breakfast is usually light: coffee, a cheese-filled pastry, toast, or bread rolls. Traditionally, the main meal is eaten in the middle of the day and consists of soup, salad, a main course, and dessert. But many people now have a lighter lunch and their main meal in the evening, usually after 7 PM. Meals are considered an important time for conversation.

Kufteta Sarmi Kebap

SOCIAL LIFE

  Socializing at home or in cafйs is an important part of Bulgarian life. Friends and neighbours commonly drop by for a short visit without prior arrangement, and Bulgarians often invite friends over for dinner. Guests are usually offered refreshments, even when not invited for a meal. Dinner guests often bring flowers (an odd number), a bottle of wine, or confectionery. In some houses guests are expected to remove their shoes upon entering; slippers may be provided.

HOLIDAYS AND CELEBRATIONS

On Christmas Eve, to celebrate the harvest and to wish that the next one be good, it is traditional to eat fruits and vegetables rather than meat. On New Year's Day, families enjoy a large meal and exchange presents. Children go from door to door wishing good fortune to friends and relatives, carrying with them a survachka (a small, decorated stick), with which they touch the people they visit in exchange for confectionery and money.

At the beginning of March, Bulgarians traditionally exchange martenitsa, red-and-white yarn designs that symbolize luck and happiness. The martenitsa is worn on the clothing until a swallow is seen, after which it is hung on a branch or hidden under a rock to welcome spring and to represent the hope that the evil spirits will go to sleep.

COMMERCE

Business hours are generally from 9 AM to 6 PM, but many private shops are open longer hours. Some businesses close for the midday meal. Many close by noon on Saturdays, and most are closed on Sundays. Each town has a daily open-air market. Bulgaria is adapting to capitalism, and entrepreneurs are turning their garages or vacant buildings into shops and other small enterprises.

ARTS

   The 13th-century frescoes of the Boyana Church near Sofia are outstanding examples of the painting of that period. Bulgarian handicrafts include rich folk embroideries and ornaments. Some of the best sculptures, wood carvings, etchings, and paintings are based on traditional culture and native subjects. Outstanding Bulgarian artists include the etcher Peter Morozov, the painter Vladimir Dimitrov, and the sculptors Ivan Lazarov and Christo, an avant-garde artist noted for his technique of wrapping objects and landscape features.

MUSIC

Traditional Bulgarian music includes folk songs and choral plain chants in the Greek mode for church services. The chief native musical instruments are the gaida, or bagpipe, and the kaval, which is a wooden shepherd's flute. The characteristic folk dances are variations of the hora, a round chain dance, and the ruchenitsa, a lively dance of two couples. Some modern Bulgarian orchestral and operatic compositions have gained recognition in other countries. Among leading composers are Petko Stainov and Pancho Vladigerov.

Gaida Kaval Tapan

ARCHITECTURE

The chief architectural monuments of Bulgaria are medieval churches and monasteries. The oldest is the circular Church of St George in Sofia, originally a pagan temple. The Rila Monastery, founded in the 9th century, is striking in its mountainous setting. An important monument of the 11th century is Bachkovo Monastery, south of Plovdiv. A major modern structure is the large, ornate Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia.

LIBRARIES AND MUSEUMS

Large libraries in Sofia include the Central Library of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the library of the University of Sofia, and the Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius National Library. The Ivan Vazov National Library is located in Plovdiv. In addition, the people of Bulgaria are served by many smaller public libraries.

GOVERNMENT

   Under the constitution adopted in 1991, the president, who is directly elected for a five-year term, is Bulgaria's head of state and appoints the prime minister, who is head of government. The National Assembly (Narodno Sobraniye) has 240 members directly elected for four-year terms. The voting age is 18.

THE 20TH CENTURY

   In 1878, after the Ottomans' defeat in the Russo-Turkish War, Bulgaria was divided into the Kingdom of Bulgaria (to the north) and Eastern Romelia (to the south). Eastern Romelia remained part of the Ottoman Empire until it was reunited with Bulgaria in 1886. Full independence was proclaimed by Bulgaria in 1908.Allied with Germany in World Wars I and II, Bulgaria was twice defeated. In 1944 the Communists consolidated power when Soviet troops marched into the country. The prominent Bulgarian Communist leader, Georgi Dimitrov, who had been a nationalist hero against the Nazis in World War II, became prime minister in 1946. The 1947 constitution was named after him.From 1954 to 1989 Todor Zhivkov held full power. His authority remained unquestioned until he was removed from power as reforms swept through Eastern Europe. Petur Mladenov was named the new head of state by the National Assembly, which also began considering constitutional reform. The 1990 elections were won by the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP, formerly the Communist Party), but instability followed. Mladenov and his prime minister soon resigned under pressure. After elections in 1991 the first non-Communist government was formed under the leadership of Filip Dimitrov. Zhelyu Zhelev, who had succeeded Mladenov as president, was re-elected in 1992. Later in 1992 the Dimitrov government was voted out of office by the National Assembly and replaced by a government of “independent experts” led by Lyuben Berov. It held on to power until September 1994. In the election that followed, the BSP won an absolute majority and Zhan Videnov became prime minister.

Grapes of Bulgaria

ECONOMY

  Bulgaria's transition to a market economy has progressed at a slower pace than that of some of the other former Eastern bloc countries, notably Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. By the end of 1990 the economy was in a disastrous state; output had fallen sharply and foreign debt was US$4 billion. As a result of reforms introduced in November of that year, inflation soared and unemployment began to rise. By 1994 the economy was still declining, although there were predictions of a modest recovery in 1995. The country has to import most of its energy requirements, although it has large resources of poor-quality coal and non-ferrous metals. The high-technology sector is expanding, and tourism, an important foreign-exchange earner, has considerable potential. However, the economy is still uncomfortably dependent on heavy industries that are in decline or stagnant. Industrial products are by far the most important export, although the country also exports agricultural products such as grain, tobacco, wine, and dairy foods. Trade has suffered from the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and the Comecon (Council for Mutual Economic Assistance) trading arrangements, and from the conflict in the former Yugoslavia, which resulted in a blockade of the Danube. The currency is the lev.

TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION

The reliable public transport system includes buses, trams, trolleys, and trains. Many families own cars. Taxis are plentiful in urban areas.The press is expanding and television broadcasts are changing rapidly as US and European programmes become more popular. The telephone system is due for expansion and modernization. Many people are with celular phones

  Education is free and compulsory for 8 years; it is also free at higher levels. Science and technical training are emphasized in school,  there are modern equipment for advanced training. Entrance to secondary schools is determined by competitive exams, and most urban students choose from one of five types of school, each offering a different focus (such as maths and science or foreign languages). A number of universities and training institutions offer higher education.

A national health-care system provides free medical care to all citizens, and facilities are often well equipped. Private treatment is now also available.