The Bulgarian culture has a long history of warring tribes and conquerors, each leaving its mark. This has led to a diverse culture of food and traditions that reflect many influences from surrounding regions. It’s also a very family oriented society where it is common to see grandparents interacting with their grandchildren.
Bulgarians are very passionate about their language and literature and enjoy reading. They typically read books by local authors and will discuss their ideas with each other at length. There are numerous literary societies that meet and discuss different books throughout the country. These groups are a great place to meet new people and learn more about the Bulgarian culture.
Most Bulgarians are Orthodox Christians and they are very fond of the holidays like Christmas and Easter. These are usually very family oriented events and they are celebrated very similar to how they are in the United States. It is very common for Bulgarian teenagers to go out on the weekend and will stay out until very late (2 AM or later). This is considered cultural tradition so parents may find it challenging to introduce a curfew.
In terms of cuisine, the bulgarians are very proud of their culinary heritage. They have several traditional dishes that are very popular in the country including banitsa which is a savoury pastry made of filo dough filled with a variety of fillings from eggs, spinach, to yoghurt and white cheese. For special occasions such as Christmas or New Years it is common to hide coins or good luck messages in the banitsa for luck in the upcoming year.
Another common dish is supa topcheta which is a warm and comforting winter soup that is very rich in vegetables and meat. It is served with a slice of bread on the side. Another very popular dish is kufte which are flat meatballs that can be cooked in a variety of ways such as grilled or baked. They are seasoned with spices and often contain red pepper flakes for spice.
The bulgarians are also very fond of cheese and are very creative in incorporating it into their meals. They have a number of unique cheeses that are very popular in the country such as feta and halloum. Another popular cheese is the smilyanik which is very hard and tangy in texture.
The bulgarians are a very talented and creative culture with a lot to be proud of. They have produced a wide range of musicians, poets, writers and painters. Their music is a mixture of folk and classical and it can be enjoyed by all generations of people. The Bulgarian community has a very rich history and is a great place to live and visit.