Bulgaria

Bulgarians are generally optimistic, good-humored, and loyal to family and friends. Generally, most people in Bulgaria are working to put food on the table. The dream of most parents is to be able to send their children to a higher level of education. A person who owns a business is considered wealthy.

One of the poorest groups of people is the retired elderly persons. They can not afford to buy medicines or pay for some surgeries. Most of them depend on their sons and daughters. Many families possess a flat (apartment) in the city and share a family house in a village. Those people are not rich. Most of them can not afford to go on holiday. In the village, many of them grow vegetables or livestock to prepare food for the winter.

Renting an apartment is expensive, it usually occurs when young people study or work in another city before they marry and they share a flat.

A person usually greets another person during the day with a smiling face and a simple hello (Zdrasti), and sometimes one will extend their hand for a handshake. One might also say "Good morning!" (Dobro utro!) , "Good afternoon!" (Dobro utro!) or "Good evening!" (Dobar vecher!). Hand-slaps and hugs are popular among young people; a kiss between close female friends is also common.

When talking to another person you should be close enough to hear each other. Eye contact is advisable for best communication. Physical contact is not an appropriate way to communicate. It is suitable only for close friends and lovers. There are no rules for hand placement, it’s just more polite if your hands stand still and you do not accompany your speech with hand movements.

Yes is indicated by shaking the head from side to side, and “no” is expressed with one or two nods of the head. Bulgarians often touch while conversing, and female friends might walk arm in arm down the street.

It is impolite to point with the index finger. It is also impolite for men to cross an ankle over the knee.

Typically people socialize in public by having a drink in a café or in a restaurant. Some people gather at their homes, discussing their personal problems. Invited guests often bring flowers for the hostess, a bottle of alcohol for the host, and candy for the children. In many homes, guests remove their shoes upon entering the home.

If one visits impromptu, the host is not obligated to accept the visitor – They could hold them at the door and talk to him there until they understand that it is not an appropriate time for a visit.

When visiting, it is considered polite if the guest greets everyone in the room beginning with the elderly, especially the hosts. When leaving the host accompanies the guest to the door and according to the relationship between them, they may hug or kiss each other.

American and European fashions are popular; at home, people wear T-shirts, jeans, skirts, and blouses. At school young people do the same – most teenagers like jeans, tennis shoes and clothes with logos on them. At work adults wear more formal clothing – Men wear suits, ties, and pants. Women wear pants and pullovers, jackets, suits, and sometimes dresses and high heels. During the winter hats, gloves, scarves, and sometimes fur coats are worn.

Traditional clothes from the last centuries are rich in embroidery and decorations. They are worn by dancers and singers of Bulgarian famous folk groups during performances. Traditional clothes are sometimes worn by very old people in the villages.

Bulgarians usually have breakfast at 8-9 o’clock. A typical breakfast is small and may consist of a pastry and coffee Lunchtime is at 12 o’clock it may include kebapcheta (grilled minced beef, pork or veal rolled into sausages), kavarma (individual casseroles of pork, veal, onions and mushrooms), or sarmi (vine or cabbage leaves stuffed with rice or meat). These dishes are accompanied by kartofi (potatoes), vegetables and bread. Dinner is usually at 7 to 8 pm. Meals are usually eaten at home, especially in the evening. Sometimes children have one meal at school and workers – at some restaurant nearby. Fish is popular along the Black Sea coast. Fish may be grilled, fried or prepared in a soup or stew. Tsatsa, a small white fish, is deep-fried in a batter and served with fried potatoes. Skumriya na keremidi is mackerel baked in an earthenware container with a rich tomato sauce. Bulgarians enjoy Turkish and Middle Eastern desserts such as baklava (flaky pastry stuffed with pistachio nuts coated in sweet syrup) and kadayif (shredded wheat stuffed with nuts in syrup). Bulgarians also enjoy a great variety of torta (cakes) filled with maslena (butter cream), frukti (fruit), or shokoladova (chocolate) as well as sladoled (ice cream). Bulgarians drink their coffee very strong. Herbal teas are also popular. Bulgarians enjoy local wines such as Melnik, a red wine from the southwestern region. Bulgarians spirits include slivova rakiya, which is made from plums, pliska, a type of cognac, and vodka. Bulgarians also make beer: two of the most popular brands are Zagorka and Astika.

In addition to three meals a day, Bulgarians might have a mid-morning snack and afternoon coffee. The continental style of eating is most common. Conversation is expected and everyone waits for all to finish before leaving the table. Napkins are placed on the table, not in the lap. Most Bulgarians eat together during the days when people are at home or at least for dinner during the work days. ????

Bulgarians usually have breakfast at 8-9 o’clock. A typical breakfast is small and may consist of a pastry and coffee Lunchtime is at 12 o’clock it may include kebapcheta (grilled minced beef, pork or veal rolled into sausages), kavarma (individual casseroles of pork, veal, onions and mushrooms), or sarmi (vine or cabbage leaves stuffed with rice or meat). These dishes are accompanied by kartofi (potatoes), vegetables and bread. Dinner is usually at 7 to 8 pm. Meals are usually eaten at home, especially in the evening. Sometimes children have one meal at school and workers – at some restaurant nearby. Fish is popular along the Black Sea coast. Fish may be grilled, fried or prepared in a soup or stew. Tsatsa, a small white fish, is deep-fried in a batter and served with fried potatoes. Skumriya na keremidi is mackerel baked in an earthenware container with a rich tomato sauce. Bulgarians enjoy Turkish and Middle Eastern desserts such as baklava (flaky pastry stuffed with pistachio nuts coated in sweet syrup) and kadayif (shredded wheat stuffed with nuts in syrup). Bulgarians also enjoy a great variety of torta (cakes) filled with maslena (butter cream), frukti (fruit), or shokoladova (chocolate) as well as sladoled (ice cream). Bulgarians drink their coffee very strong. Herbal teas are also popular. Bulgarians enjoy local wines such as Melnik, a red wine from the southwestern region. Bulgarians spirits include slivova rakiya, which is made from plums, pliska, a type of cognac, and vodka. Bulgarians also make beer: two of the most popular brands are Zagorka and Astika.

Bulgarians usually marry in their late teens or early twenties. Bulgarian families are smaller than in generations past, with an average of three children however, family ties remain strong and the family unite is supportive of its members. The elderly are often cared for by their adult children and It is common for children to stay with grandparents when their parents are at work. Young couples often live with parents until they are able to afford housing for themselves. Godparents are adults chosen by the family at a child's baptism to act as counselors and guardians. Godparents keep close ties with godchildren throughout their lives.

The youth associate in groups at first. One-on-one dating does not usually occur until people are in their twenties. Favorite activities involve getting together at a cafe to drink and talk, going to a movie, dancing at discos, or relaxing in the park. Most Bulgarians expect to marry and have children. The average age for women to marry is between 18 and 25. Rural men marry in their twenties and urban men in their thirties. A legal civil ceremony is often followed by a church wedding.

Boys are interested mainly in soccer. Wrestling for competition is also popular among boys. Girls like gymnastics. Roller blades are popular. Unfortunately, most sports require expensive facilities and most children can not afford them. Most schools do not have sports facilities. Additionally, at school there are not enough hours for physical education, and sports at school just give a major idea, so that children could recognize different types of games.

The Bulgarian child starts their day when their parents wake them up at 6.30 -7.00 a.m. Brushing the teeth and showering are rituals, which every child does in the morning. Children usually eat breakfast at home with their parents, but in recent years there a trend where children eat breakfast at school. At home, a typical Bulgarian breakfast is called banitza with a cup of yogurt. Banitaz is a meal of pasta and cheese. Bulgarian children often have pets to take care of in the morning. A child’s duty is to feed the cat or dog before school. Children wear school uniforms.

According to the Bulgarian educational system, more than half the students use public transport if they are aged over 10 years. If they are under that age, their parents escort them to school in their own car or public bus. In recent years, school buses are also an option.

Most school buildings in Bulgaria are old but well repaired. However, there are schools whose buildings are 70 years old. In a typical school, the number of students is from 200 to 400 children depending on the location. In big cities, especially in the capital, Sofia, schools are difficult to access because there the population is bigger than in the country. The typical classroom in Bulgaria contains 30 desks, a blackboard, and portraits of national heroes such as Vasil Levski and Hristo Botev (heroes, who helped in the liberation from Ottoman slavery). In the early grades, the rooms have toys and puzzles. However, in Bulgarian schools, there is a serious lack of technologies such as computers, especially in small towns, where there are almost no computers. If there are computers they are usually outdated machines. The good news is that students can practice at home, where almost every Bulgarian family has a PC. Bulgarian schools supply free breakfast for students in recent years. The school breakfast is fruit and drink in order to maintain the good health of students. There are also special tuck shops where children can buy everything, but breakfast is free.

Bulgarian school students greet with the typical Dobro utro (Good morning) and the start of the first hour at school is indicated by the school bell at exactly 7.45 a.m. Primary education in the Bulgarian school system for students from 7 to 11 years is from 1st till 4th grade. Basic education which is compulsory lasts from 11 years old to 15 years old and it is from 5th to 8th grade. Secondary education, which lasts from 8th to 12th class, is not mandatory, but nearly 70 percent of Bulgarians have a secondary education. Higher education for a bachelor's degree lasts 4 years and it is recognized in Europe and America. In the primary grades there are 6 school hours per day, school hours last 45 minutes, and the breaks between classes are between 5-10 minutes. The lunch break is 15 minutes, there is lunch provided in every school and the food is served in the school canteen. The lunch is usually free and it is provided by the school. Lunch includes typical Bulgarian dishes with vegetables. There are three meals- salad, soup, and meat dishes, as well as a fruit dessert or sweet yogurt. The essential subjects that children learn in school are mathematics, literature, Bulgarian language, history, geography, biology, physics, chemistry, art, sports, informational training (computer and technology) and optional subjects are second language starting from primary grades. The most widespread second language is English, followed by German and Russian. For every teacher there are nearly 14 pupils in primary education, and for secondary education there are about 11 students per teacher. The headmaster of the school class - who is usually their main teacher - is responsible for the discipline, and informs the parents of their child's discipline and learning. Every month there is a parent meeting that discusses key issues of education for their children. Bulgarian students are learning in a rigorous system and the role of the creative process is not very tolerated. This includes project work, debate, essay writing on topics of interest to students, and creating a product.

After school Bulgarian children return home to do their homework. Often, children practice sports like volleyball, football, handball, and others. Sports are compulsory for every child. Some sports are organized by schools and others are on a community basis. One of the unique games of Bulgarian students is "hide and seek". Recently, students have been taking lessons in karate and other Eastern martial fight disciplines.

In their free time, the children often spend time on Internet gaming. Lately, parents have been restricting their children's time spent on the internet to encourage their children to read more books. Most Bulgarian parents are trying to reduce time on the Internet to only 1-2 hours. Dinner at home is served between 7 and 8 p.m. The dinner includes typical Bulgarian dishes, but most kids say pizza is their favorite food. A Bulgarian child from primary school goes to bed at 10 p.m. after a bath and brushing of the teeth, which is required. According to the law in Bulgaria after 8 p.m., a student shall be out only with an escort.

Education plays a central role in the life of every child and is extremely valued in Bulgaria. Recently, parents have invested a lot of time and money into the education of their children to obtain the best possible future for their children.