Душата на един народ: Българският национален календар от 1878 година до наши дни

Abstract

An essential characteristic of the Bulgarian National Calendar as representation of the Bulgarian official holidayritual system is its inconsistency and mutability. In it, several periods may be outlined. Its origins date from the rule of prince Aleksander (1879-1886) during which it developed under strong Russian influence. Prince (1908 – tzar/king) Ferdinand (1887-1918) encouraged the process of its acquiring greater national identity, which started with the Unification and the Serbian-Bulgarian War of 1885. During the war years between 1912-1918, the War Holiday of the Bulgarian Army came to the fore. During the period between World War I and World War II, the official and non-official holidays embedded clear national symbols and aimed to emphasize on the continuity between the National Revival values and the national ideals. After September 9, 1944 the Bulgarian Communist Party availed of all totalitarian State resources to obliterate the memory of the holiday system of the previous epoch, and the official calendar was subject to intensive designing after the Soviet manner. During the years of transition after November 10, 1989 restoration of the traditional holidays from the period preceding World War II was initiated. Nevertheless, the public debates concerning the holidays on the Bulgarian National Calendar are still ongoing.