Holiday of Bulgarian Culture and Slavic Writing (Day of Saints Cyril and Methodius)

Cathedral of St. Cyril and Methodius, VarnaIn the Bulgarian holiday calendar, May 24 is one of the most symbolically meaningful holidays. Perhaps there is no Bulgarian who would not know that on this day the work of the Slavic first teachers Cyril and Methodius is celebrated.

At the initiative of the Bulgarian Renaissance figure Naden Gerov, the holiday began to be celebrated back in 1851, first in Plovdiv, then in Shumen, Lom, Istanbul, and then throughout the country. Once upon a time, by this date, school classes were over, and the holiday was a convenient opportunity to show the knowledge and achievements of schoolchildren to guests and parents. And to this day in primary school on the eve of May 24, there are celebrations of letters and quizzes of knowledge. Students under the guidance of their teachers weave wreaths of living flowers, which adorn the portraits of the holy brothers-first teachers.

Usually on the day of May 24, festive processions of scientists, teachers of schools and universities, schoolchildren and just wanting to lay wreaths and flowers at the monuments of Cyril and Methodius (and other revivalists) throughout the country. At the monuments, solemn speeches are read, which indicate the role and significance of Old Slavonic (Old Bulgarian) writing for the cultural growth of the Bulgarian and many other Slavic peoples. The Hymn to Cyril and Methodius sounds, written by the famous Bulgarian composer Lubomir Pipkov on the words of the Bulgarian poet Stoyan Mikhailovsky.

Once upon a time, during the socialist era, mass demonstrations were held on squares by order of the authorities. Today, such demonstrations no longer exist. Usually, a number of cultural events are timed to this holiday - the "Salon of Arts" in the People's Palace of Culture in Sofia, book fairs, concert cycles, poetry readings in the open air, amateur art shows, exhibitions dedicated to books or the case of Cyril and Methodius are opened.