Bulgarians are very proud of their country and its rich history. They feel strongly that the nation has survived despite centuries of foreign domination. Hospitality is highly valued. People love to linger over meals and spend quality time with their hosts. It’s normal for conversations to go on for hours. Bulgarians are very sensitive about the Ottoman occupation and often talk about it at length. They have preserved their language and culture, which are distinct from those of the neighboring Balkan countries.

The Bulgarian flag is the oldest state flag in Europe. It was designed by a German-born Bulgarian painter, Nikola Vlasov, and is a symbol of national unity and resilience. It features three main colours: red, blue and yellow and a large golden coat of arms at the centre. The arms feature a shield with five crosses and the words “Unity Makes Strength”. The shield is supported by two crowned rampant golden lions facing each other.

Throughout the year there are several important festivals and celebrations in Bulgaria. These include Christmas Eve with stuffed peppers and cabbage dishes, New Year’s Day with fish and meat soup, and Gergyovden (St George’s day) on May 6th with lamb roast. These days are a great opportunity to try some of the traditional foods and drinks.

Bulgarian cuisine is very diverse with influences from many different countries and cultures. The Bulgarians like to use a lot of spices and herbs. They also use a lot of fresh vegetables, fruits and meats. One of the most popular dishes is shkembe chorba, which is a kind of soup. It is a very hearty dish and it’s something that you either love or hate.

There are also a lot of cured and dried sausages in Bulgaria. The variety is so big that you can easily lose count, but some of the most famous ones are banski starets, babek and lukanka. Some of these sausages have a very distinctive taste. The bulgarians also love to drink a lot of boza, which is a fermented drink made with wheat flour and fruit juice or a mixture of both. Almost every bulgarian loves it, but it’s a drink that not many foreigners can appreciate.

The Bulgarians also have a unique way of greeting their friends and family members. They pour water in front of the door before someone leaves with the words ‘may success flow like water’. This is a tradition that’s done on the first day of school, before an exam or during a wedding.

The Bulgarian language is written using the Cyrillic alphabet. Fortunately, there are plenty of online resources to learn it. The language courses offered by 17 Minute Languages, for example, provide a transliteration into the Roman alphabet as well as a recorded audio of a Bulgarian speaker pronouncing the sounds. It’s also a good idea to practice the Cyrillic letters before you come to Bulgaria. This way you will be able to read the local signs and understand what your local colleagues are talking about when they speak their native tongue.