Bulgaria is one of the best places in Europe to sample traditional and authentic cuisine. With great world heritage sites, beautiful beaches and scrumptious food, it is a wonderful country to visit. Bulgarian is a member of the South Slavic group of languages, and shares similarities with Serbian, Croatian and Macedonian. However, the Bulgarian dialects are quite distinct from each other with Eastern Bulgarian having consonant palatalization before front vowels (/e/ and /i/) and substantial vowel reduction in unstressed positions. Western Bulgarian shows less allophonic palatalization and has only minor vowel reduction.
Family composition in Bulgaria is similar to that of the United States, with parents and children living together. Typically, grandparents live with the family as well and may be involved in household decisions. Having strong familial connections and a sense of responsibility for the community are important values in Bulgarian culture.
The traditional Bulgarian dish banitsa is a layered pastry of filo dough filled with a variety of ingredients. The most common fillings are a mixture of white cheese and yoghurt, although variations exist with spinach, meat or even apples. Banitsa is a popular dish especially at Christmas and New Year’s where it is customary to hide coins or good luck messages inside for extra prosperity.
Another traditional Bulgarian dish is tarator, which is a simple cucumber soup with yoghurt and fresh dill. This dish is a favourite for hot summer days because it is very refreshing and does not require any cooking.
There are also many different kinds of bread in Bulgaria, some of which are used for specific holidays. During 1 March, for example, it is customary to make kozunak, which resembles a cross between a bagel and a donut and has raisins in it. This is a reminder of Baba Marta, the pagan goddess of fertility and spring. Legends say she had a stormy mood and went around people’s houses to bless them with good harvest and health.
Other common Bulgarian foods include borek, which is a savoury pastry made with layers of filo dough and stuffed with minced meat, onions or vegetables. It is usually eaten with sour cream and is served as a main meal. Another popular breakfast is mekitsa, which are deep-fried donuts that can be topped with both sweet and savoury fillings.
Like most other Slavic languages, Bulgarian has several abstract particles that are used to add emphasis or emphasise a particular point. These include kazhi mi, be, taka li, be and de. These are often added to a question to express urgency or derision. Using them correctly is an art form and it can be difficult to translate them into English. When communicating in Bulgarian, it is also customary to look someone directly in the eye. Eye contact is considered a sign of trust and honesty and it is believed that it is much harder to lie when looking someone in the eyes.