Bulgarians are known for their warmth and generosity, as well as their vibrant culture. The country’s rich traditions, festivals, and customs are a testament to its deep spirituality. Bulgaria is also home to unique artifacts from the Thracian, Hellenistic and Roman civilizations.

The Constitution of Bulgaria guarantees equality between men and women. Although Bulgaria remains a patriarchal society, women have substantial authority over household budgeting and agricultural decision making, as well as the right to own property. They lag behind men only slightly in educational achievement. Family members often maintain close networks of informal support. Heavy-handed discipline is uncommon, and children are raised to defer to parental authority. The majority of families have single-child households, allowing them to devote considerable resources to their children’s well-being and education.

Among the most famous bulgarian foods is banitsa, a rich walnut and chocolate cake. Its 5 2mm layers are made of ground walnuts, egg whites, and sugar, with fillings ranging from spinach and pumpkin to sweet milk, yoghurt, or feta cheese. The cake is traditionally served for Christmas and New Year’s, with lucky charms or sayings written on paper inside to bring good luck. Another traditional dish is kavarma, which consists of a mix of meat and vegetables cooked in the oven.

A distinctive feature of Bulgarian speech is the use of glottal clicks, which function as the equivalent of nods and shakes in Western languages. The gestures are used to express agreement or disagreement, and to indicate that a topic has been discussed, as well as to clarify the meaning of other expressions. For example, a nod of the head means yes, and a shaking of the head means no.

Agriculture and mining have historically been the major industries in Bulgaria. A rapid industrialization occurred during the socialist era, with specialization in machinery production and steel and chemical processing. The manufacture of food, beverages and tobacco products is also an important sector.

The president of Bulgaria is directly elected to a five-year term with the right to one re-election. He or she serves as commander in chief of the armed forces, schedules elections and referenda, represents the country abroad, concludes international treaties, and heads the Consultative Council for National Security. The president can return legislation to the National Assembly for further debate—a kind of veto—but the bill must be approved by an absolute majority vote to become law.

The most popular religion in Bulgaria is Christianity, and Orthodox orthodoxy is the official state religion. Its teachings emphasize personal salvation and the importance of familial devotion. Until the early years of democracy, there were almost no divorces in Bulgaria and a strong belief that the key to a happy life was having a family. Since the onset of democracy, the number of divorces has risen steadily. Today, about 10% of Bulgarian marriages end in divorce.