The most large-scale events dedicated to the Bulgarian spirit, traditions and national identity are being organized in 2016 by the “Heritage in the future” Foundation. Namely: the Vth jubilee edition of the National Sheep Breeders’ Festival in Bulgaria, the National Festival of Folklore and Livestock Breeding “Rozhen” and “Irin Pirin” – The Festival of the Southwest. These three unique forums will promote and assert the Bulgarian ways and the continuity between generations, which is the very mission of the “Heritage in the future” Foundation – one concept realized by Simeon Karakolev.
The fifth edition of the National Sheep Breeders’ Festival in Bulgaria will be held from 6 to 8 May 2016 at the “Sts. Peter and Paul” Monastery near the town of Lyaskovets. The event is organized by the “Heritage in the Future” Foundation along with the National Association of Milky Sheep in Bulgaria, in partnership with the municipalities of Lyaskovets, Veliko Tarnovo and Gorna Oryahovitsa. The festival intertwines the economic and ethnocultural aspect of sheep breeding as a traditional occupation. This huge event incorporates exhibitions of pedigree animals, organic products, equipment; various farmer competitions, exhibitions of handicrafts, a rich folklore competition, wrestling games, culinary shows and much more. Farmers from all parts of Bulgaria, representatives of foreign business organizations, diplomats and more than 2,500 participants in the folklore competition were among the 150,000 visitors of this unprecedented in Europe event last year.
The Magic of “Rozhen” will conquer the Rhodope Mountains once again and unite the whole Bulgarian nation from 15 to 17 July! The Rozhen festival was restored and renovated after an absence of 9 years – a revival, initiated by Simeon Karakolev and the “Heritage of the Future” Foundation, in partnership with the municipalities of Smolyan and Chepelare. It became the №1 event for 2015, as it was attended by over 350 000 people. The Festival of Folklore and Livestock Breeding “Rozhen” in 2016 will combine the colorful folklore performances with the exhibitions of national and regional museums and ethnographic collections, the exhibitions of crafts and the tempting aroma of the traditional Bulgarian cheverme and other dishes, the exhibitions of livestock and meat and dairy foods, horse shows and attractions, various children’s events, dancers on live coals and all the remaining folk festivities.
This year the “Heritage in the Future” Foundation in partnership with the municipality of Razlog set the beginning of a new tradition: “Irin Pirin” – The Festival of the Southwest. The event will take place from the 17 to 19 June near Razlog town and will focus on the folklore and traditions, inspired by the magic of Southwestern Bulgaria. The Visitors of this festival will enjoy the typical for the region of Pirin diphthong melodious songs, the dances of the mystic kukeri, the special rituals and customs, as well as the traditional regional dishes and farm products.
From the old days on the Rozhen meadows old churches of Christian saints were revered; saints whose feasts are within two months – July and August. In 1898, Father Angel Indjov, a priest in Sokolovtsi village was the first one to come up with a general concept of a fair on these lands, summoning parishioners to honor all the saints of the Rozhen chapels on the day of St. Pantaleon – July 27. Rozhen gradually became a place where once a year relatives and friends could share both pain and joy. As days went by generations turned those meetings into tradition by organizing family and friendly gatherings of the Rhodope people – not just the natives of the area, but also the ones deported to the heart of the country.
63 folklore ensembles and individual performers are rewarded for their participation in the folklore competition of the Festival of Folklore and Livestock Breeding “Rozhen-2015.” From 17 to 19 July on the four stages over 8000 participants demonstrated their talent – from vocal, instrumental and dance groups and groups of folk customs to individual performers – singers, instrumentalists and storytellers from across the country. On each stage first, second and third prizes were awarded by the jury in the different categories.
Special awards were given to the youngest and oldest bagpipe performers who participated in the Folk Competition of Rozhen – the five-year-old Kostadin Margaritov and the 86-year-old Iliya Kadiev, both coming from Smolyan.
The Bagpiper trio from the Community Center “Consciousness -1929”, Gela village, were awarded as the best young instrumentalists, along with the Orchestra of Folk Instruments from the Community Center “N. Vaptsarov-1927”, Bata village (Municipality of Panagyurishte), and the Bagpipe trio from the Community Center “The forests of Orpheus – 1870”, Smolyan city, part of the orchestra “100 bagpipes.” Special awards were given to Georgi Dobrev, a piper from Plovdiv, Youth Dance Group of “Enlightenment -1928”, Chargan village, Tunja Municipality, pipers Zlatin Semerdzhiev, Vassil Margaritov and Stoycho Chetrafilov from the orchestra of “100 bagpipes” in Smolyan.
The Association of Community Centers in Bulgaria awarded prizes for participation in the Festival to the following Community Centers: “Grandpa Ivan Arabadjiyata -1926”. Tsaratsovo village, Municipality of Plovdiv; “Enlightenment – 1900”, Devnya village; “Father Paisius – 1927” Ivaylo village, Municipality of Pazardzhik and “Progress – 1926” , Sredets village, Municipality of Nedelino.
The Mayor of Smolyan Nikolay Melemov gave a special award – a “Rozhen” plaque – to Rusanka Bodurova for overall contribution to folk art, whereas the Mayor of Chepelare Todor Bozukov awarded the Mixed ensemble of authentic folklore “Thracian color” from the Regional Organization of the Blind, Plovdiv city with the eponymous prize.
Prizes were also awarded to the best dance performers at the the festival, who participated in sponsoring the event – the RICHMART company, dancing in all three days and collecting applause from the thousands of spectators.
Over 350 000 people gathered for the three-day National Festival of Folklore and Livestock Breeding “Rozhen -2015.” The event was organized by the Association “Rozhen – our Heritage in the future” in cooperation with the Municipalities of Smolyan and Chepelare and the support of the Ministry of Culture and was under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Mr. Rossen Plevneliev.
Apart from the vast amount of folklore and patriotic spirit, the visitors were also able to get the feel of Rozhen’s exhibitions of crafts, various farming competitions, different animals, culinary shows and equestrian attractions, mobile museum expositions, exhibitions of dairy products.
