Three major festivals for authentic folklore this year are going to mix folk traditions, ethnography, exhibitions of traditional animal breeds, races and museum displays. These include the Fifth National Festival of Sheep Breeders in the region of Veliko Tarnovo, the Rozhen Festival of Folklore and Livestock Breeding near Smolyan and Irin-Pirin in Razlog, Southwestern Bulgaria. The organizers from Heritage in the Future Foundation aim to promote the Bulgarian national values and continuity between generations.

The National Festival of Sheep Breeders in Bulgaria is linked to the patron of sheep breeders St. George and opens on 6 May in the vicinity of Sts. Peter and Paul Monastery, Central Bulgaria. Framers from across the country will join in, plus more than 2500 participants in the folklore competition, as well as diplomats. Representatives of various organizations from the sector of agriculture are going to attend the event too: this year more than thirty from various Balkan and other European countries. The event is relatively new but has gained popularity and last year alone attracted 150,000 visitors.

The Heritage in the Future Foundation is also committed to the Irin-Pirin Festival. It will be held in association with the Municipality of Razlog and will take place in the locality of Predela on 17, 18 and 19 June. It accentuates the ethnography, folklore and traditions of Bulgaria's Southwest.

A month later, on 15, 16 and 17 July, the Rozhen National Festival will be held. It was resumed by the foundation in cooperation with the Municipality of Smolyan. It will see a folklore competition with 7000 participants performing on five stages. Organizer Vladislava Andreeva says more:

“Last year the four stages were not enough because of the large number of participants from across Bulgaria. Also, we had problems with access because the locality of Rozhen is high in the mountain. Unfortunately, we cannot build new roads. We are trying however to lay new routes from the resort of Pamporovo. This year we circulate an address to the Bulgarians abroad and invite them to join Rozhen because we believe it is an all-national event. We aim to attract as many people as possible who would ideally be dressed up in traditional costumes.”

The organizers from the Heritage in the Future Foundation and the municipalities of Smolyan and Chepelare have vowed that a large tent camp will be made and transport will be provided from Chepelare, Smolyan and Pamporovo. Despite the big job everybody is positive and determined to go on for the sake of the event. 

“We believe that this model is successful, innovative and interesting. Here on the spot, we can see people impressed by this amazing mix of ethnography, traditions, farming and stockbreeding. It is a great way to come into touch with the spirit of the Rhodope Mountains and with ancient Bulgarian traditions”, concludes Vladislava Andreeva.

English Daniela Konstantinova