A small country with a long history, bulgarian is one of the founding members of the european union. Its first constitution was drawn up in 1991 and its multiparty parliamentary republic provides for free elections with universal adult suffrage. The head of state is an elected president and the head of government a prime minister selected by the largest parliamentary group. Local governments are also democratically elected, while regional governors are appointed by the Council of Ministers.

Bulgarians are masters at grilling, and the juiciness of their meat dishes is legendary. They marinate their meats overnight and add spices such as rosemary, thyme and marjoram which helps to preserve the natural juices and flavor. Bulgars are also known for their delicious sweets and their rich, complex wines.

There are many different varieties of bulgarian, but the most widely spoken is standard Bulgarian, based on the Eastern Orthodox Church rites. It is a member of the Slavic and Balkan languages families, with its roots in ancient Slavonic culture and later Bulgarian idioms. Unlike most Slavic languages, it is not written using the Latin alphabet but instead uses a unique Cyrillic alphabet.

The word ‘bulgar’ comes from the name of the ancient proto-Bulgarian tribes, who settled in the lands of today’s Bulgaria. These nomadic people combined various ethnic elements and formed a unique, powerful culture with a strong sense of community and identity.

In the tenth century Bulgarians produced an impressive body of literary work and artistic treasures, including 10th-century funerary inscriptions in the old Cyrillic alphabet that attest to their high level of material and spiritual culture. This culture was eventually crushed by the Turks and the Proto-Bulgarians lost their independent state in the thirteenth century when they capitulated to the Ottoman empire, which ruled the country for five hundred years.

Bulgarians are a friendly and hospitable people who are eager to get to know foreigners and show them their culture, traditions and way of life. They often ask a lot of questions about your home country, your family and work. It is polite to answer them, and they will appreciate it if you reciprocate their hospitality by inviting them into your home.