Feast of the Bulgarian Navy

Monument in Varna, BulgariaThe holiday of the Navy in Bulgaria is celebrated on the second Sunday of August. The reason was August 12, 1879 (old style July 31, 1879), when four Russian military ships moored in the port of Ruse - "Experience", "Blast", "Pordim" and "Gorniy Studen" - was raised the Bulgarian flag and the orchestra played the then national anthem - the military march "Shumit Maritsa". This ceremony marked the birth of the Bulgarian Navy.

Usually, the second Sunday of August is only the culmination of the holiday. In fact, the whole week preceding the holiday is filled with events related to the sea and the navy. In Bulgaria, people have long called it “Sea Festivals”. Reviews of military courts are held, army orchestras give concerts, by this time reviews of amateur artistic activity are timed, exhibitions are held. Sea holidays are celebrated both in Varna, Burgas and other Black Sea cities, and in the Danube cities - Ruse, Vidin and Silistra. In 2006, the 127th anniversary of the establishment of the Bulgarian Navy coincided with the 150th anniversary of the restoration of the lighthouse near the city of Shabla.

Traditionally, celebrations of the holiday begin in the city of Ruse by laying wreaths at the grave of a sailor, and end in the city of Varna, where a military ritual of solemn raising of flags on Navy ships on the territory of the Sea Port is held. At the same time, graduates of the Naval School receive their first officer rank. As part of the commemoration, the military oath of young conscription is also held.