Bulgaria's capital city Sofia was the main focus of the 2011 annual celebration of May 24, the Day of Bulgarian learning and culture and the Slavonic script.
Although the first celebration in commemoration of Saints Cyril and Methodius took place 160 years ago in Plovdiv, today many teachers and students from around the country participated in the festivities in Sofia.
Around the same time, local schools and cultural centres abroad organised various events to bring together Bulgarian emigrants and their friends for the celebrations.
In the capital, celebrations started in the morning outside the Ivan Vazov National Theatre and the Archeological Museum.
In the presidential building, President Georgi Purvanov awarded emeritus leaders from community centres in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the union of chitalishta, reading rooms established in communities to enable schooling and other education.
Purvanov also gave out state honours to prominent culture figures. Singer Vassil Naidenov, musician Ivo "Ibryama" Papazov and actress Iskra Radeva were among the recipients of the SS Cyril and Methodius order.
The morning saw a formal procession from the National Art Gallery along Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard. Ceremonial military guards accompanied the many school groups in a celebratory march down Sofia's landmark "yellow brick road" street.
Later, Purvanov joined the procession for an official ceremony and religious commemoration next to the monument to Cyril and Methodius in front of the National Library.
The celebrations moved to Sofia University’s aula auditorium where the university community honoured the holiday with the customary speeches and special awards.
Purvanov is to host a traditional May 24 reception at the Boyana residence.
However, these celebrations in downtown Sofia are not alone in honoring the accomplishment of the holy brother, as Bulgarians abroad have also planned events around 24th May.
In the US
The Bulgarian communities in the USAhave always been among the most active.
Later this month, the Bulgarian school in Boston will present its annual celebration in honour of the holiday. According to the school’s announcement, the performance will include a play by students, traditional dances and songs by talented students from all grade levels.
Chicago had its own gala concert "Folklore Necklace" a few days ago with the support of the Bulgarian-American centre for cultural heritage and the Bulgarian consulate in Chicago. The Facebook page of the Bulgarian embassy in Washington DC has photographs of participants dressed in traditional folklore costumes.
In Germany
The Bulgarian community in Cologne was celebrating May 24 in the company of writer Vladimir Zarev, whose last two books have recently been translated into German.
The event’s guests will also have the opportunity to see the photo exhibition "Faces of Bulgaria", which the Buditeli club presented earlier in the year.
In Cyprus
The Agency for Bulgarians Abroad said that May 24 would be celebrated in various special ways in Nicosia and other cities on the island.
In the Cypriot capital, the Bulgarian ambassador and the Cypriot minister of education and culture were to open a poster exhibition "The Cyrillic alphabet and its messages to Europe". On May 25, Bulgarian musicians living in Cyprus and Cypriot musicians who have studied in Bulgaria will all perform pieces by Pantcho Vladigerov in a symphony concert, the agency said.
As is customary, students and teachers from the Bulgarian schools in Nicosia and Larnaca have organised celebrations to honour SS Cyril and Methodius, including poetry, play excerpts, folklore songs and dances.
Although the first celebration in commemoration of Saints Cyril and Methodius took place 160 years ago in Plovdiv, today many teachers and students from around the country participated in the festivities in Sofia.
Around the same time, local schools and cultural centres abroad organised various events to bring together Bulgarian emigrants and their friends for the celebrations.
In the capital, celebrations started in the morning outside the Ivan Vazov National Theatre and the Archeological Museum.
In the presidential building, President Georgi Purvanov awarded emeritus leaders from community centres in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the union of chitalishta, reading rooms established in communities to enable schooling and other education.
Purvanov also gave out state honours to prominent culture figures. Singer Vassil Naidenov, musician Ivo "Ibryama" Papazov and actress Iskra Radeva were among the recipients of the SS Cyril and Methodius order.
The morning saw a formal procession from the National Art Gallery along Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard. Ceremonial military guards accompanied the many school groups in a celebratory march down Sofia's landmark "yellow brick road" street.
Later, Purvanov joined the procession for an official ceremony and religious commemoration next to the monument to Cyril and Methodius in front of the National Library.
The celebrations moved to Sofia University’s aula auditorium where the university community honoured the holiday with the customary speeches and special awards.
Purvanov is to host a traditional May 24 reception at the Boyana residence.
However, these celebrations in downtown Sofia are not alone in honoring the accomplishment of the holy brother, as Bulgarians abroad have also planned events around 24th May.
In the US
The Bulgarian communities in the USAhave always been among the most active.
Later this month, the Bulgarian school in Boston will present its annual celebration in honour of the holiday. According to the school’s announcement, the performance will include a play by students, traditional dances and songs by talented students from all grade levels.
Chicago had its own gala concert "Folklore Necklace" a few days ago with the support of the Bulgarian-American centre for cultural heritage and the Bulgarian consulate in Chicago. The Facebook page of the Bulgarian embassy in Washington DC has photographs of participants dressed in traditional folklore costumes.
In Germany
The Bulgarian community in Cologne was celebrating May 24 in the company of writer Vladimir Zarev, whose last two books have recently been translated into German.
The event’s guests will also have the opportunity to see the photo exhibition "Faces of Bulgaria", which the Buditeli club presented earlier in the year.
In Cyprus
The Agency for Bulgarians Abroad said that May 24 would be celebrated in various special ways in Nicosia and other cities on the island.
In the Cypriot capital, the Bulgarian ambassador and the Cypriot minister of education and culture were to open a poster exhibition "The Cyrillic alphabet and its messages to Europe". On May 25, Bulgarian musicians living in Cyprus and Cypriot musicians who have studied in Bulgaria will all perform pieces by Pantcho Vladigerov in a symphony concert, the agency said.
As is customary, students and teachers from the Bulgarian schools in Nicosia and Larnaca have organised celebrations to honour SS Cyril and Methodius, including poetry, play excerpts, folklore songs and dances.