Bulgaria is a country of many traditions, legends and fairy tales. It is a very family orientated society with a strong hierarchy of roles and behaviours. For example older members of the community are honoured and respected for their experience, wisdom and skills. They might be greeted first, given titles or served the best food at the table. Their words are listened to and heeded and their views weighed carefully by others in the group.

The country’s economy relies on agriculture, which is highly developed with the country exporting a wide range of products. These include cereals, technical crops, vegetables, fruits and viticulture as well as honey and herbs. Many Bulgarians have a strong connection with the countryside and prefer to live in rural areas where they can enjoy nature and a slower pace of life. This has led to the preservation of a number of natural and cultural landmarks throughout the nation.

Bulgarian cuisine has a significant contribution from Ottoman influences and shares dishes with Middle Eastern countries, including moussaka, gyuvetch, kibbeh and baklava. A variety of grilled meats, such as lukanka and sujuk are also popular. Bulgarians love salads and the cold soup tarator is very popular during summer. Meals are usually served with a salad, bread and a drink like rakia.

Many of the bulgarian traditions are associated with religious festivals and celebrations. Christmas is one of the main holidays, and it is celebrated in a similar way to in the U.S. Easter is another holiday which is very important and families often gather for meals together to mark the occasion.

Most Bulgarians are Orthodox Christians and the religion is a major influence on their culture. They have a very rich folklore and are proud of their culture and history. Stories and songs are passed down through generations and images of the peasant, the merchant and the nationalist revolutionary are revered.

In the world of sport, many Bulgarians have achieved great success and are very well-known around the world. Some of the most famous Bulgarian athletes are Boris Beyozhanov, Stanislav Georgiev and Vladimir Dimitrov. One of the most well known Bulgarian folk singers is Valya Balkanska who sang the song Izlel ye Delyo Haydutin which was part of the Golden Record located on board the Voyager spacecrafts.

Bulgarians tend to communicate in an open and honest manner and it is very common for teenagers to express their emotions, especially negative ones, quite freely among their peers. This is especially true when they are with their friends or siblings. Meetings with Bulgarians will normally progress at a slower pace than in other nations as details are digested and scrutinized. If you are trying to build a business relationship with Bulgarians you will need to be patient and allow plenty of time for the process as they are not deadline oriented and want to make sure all points have been discussed in detail. This can cause delays and frustration at times but it is worth the effort in the long run.