Another July Morning!!!

 ... but the first time we underline, here, 

the luminous connection 

between Bulgarian and Portuguese Dreams 

each and every sunrise on 

THE 1ST OF JULY!  

AMALIA 

RODRIGUES 

was born... in July. 

Sometime in July ~ no one knows 

the exact date; we're not sure why!? 

But she was assuredly born at some 

point in this month... and, now, 

were she still with us... 

she would be a Centenarian. 

During her lifetime, not knowing 

the exact date of her birth, she chose 

to celebrate her birthday on the 

1st day of the month ~ 

a luminous choice...! 

... so it is with special gusto, 

this year, that we sing along 

with Uriah Heep 

and all Bulgarians 

in the (very) early hours of 

the first sunrise of July 

for what would have been 

the 100th (101st?) anniversary 

of the Queen of Fado 

also...!!! 

JULY MORNING 

symbolizing and representing 

so much - so many things, verily - 

this added coincidence 

is like... 

the cherry on the cake 

~ she would say! 

Chestit Praznik...!

24 de maio, é uma das maiores festas da Bulgária - o dia da educação, da cultura e dos alfabetos eslavos (CIRILICO) da Bulgária.

São Cirilo e São Metódio são as duas grandes pessoas que se comemoram neste dia: foram elas que inventaram o alfabeto eslavo e o introduziram primeiro na Bulgária, no século IX. Eles foram os primeiros a traduzir a Bíblia também em eslavo.

Nestes dias de confinamento e para todos os amigos Búlgaros que gostam de Portugal (como tal os amigos Portugueses que gostam da Bulgaria - claro!) aqui vai uma singela saudação nesta data muito especial;

"Parabéns ! Feliz Dia da Cultura búlgara e alfabeto eslavo!"

"Chestit praznik na balgarskata cultura i slavianskata pismenost!"

"Честит ден на българската култура и писменост!"

many thanks to Margarida
for penning these few words
- that I barely edited! 

140TH!

Feliz Aniversario, SOFIA!!! 

*CHESTITO* 

~~~ химн ~~~

Chestito, Bulgaria!

We're fast approaching the 150th Anniversary of this...!

The Day Of The Unification!

When two separated lands 

became one again - circa 1865

(click the picture for a magnificent 5-second video 

that totally recaps the re-unification!)

Честит празник!

OSTAVKATA !!!

Another dream come true...!

The corrupt government that we have beseeched 

ceaselessly -for many, many months now- 

to step down and resign 

has finally abdicated power!

Let us rejoice! 

For now...

(because we never know who or what 

the people may be foolish enough to vote for, 

next time - this coming November!)

Here's to the future...!

(Gulping down a shot of rakia -

choking and coughing optional!)

Ironically enough, however, the word ''победа'' delineates everything, if not at once, according to the specifics of each situation: it can therefore signify victory but also defeat; battle; even a ''coup''...

Only in Bulgaria...!

So... is this the end for Ostavka-Man? 

Nay - we think not! 

For there is much more Resignation here, 

looming on the horizon! 

Resignation that things are doomed to repeat: 

mistakes to be made, over and over again; 

the need for an ostavka periodic, then...! 

For, in the final estimation, 

there is much to say 

about the things that we have got in common, 

Bulgarians and I...

They should surely have an expression, 

already in ancient use, 

that goes along the same way 

my good old motto goes: 

''Hope For The Best

Expect The Worst 

That Way, Nothing Will Surprise Thee!''

One more time...

OSTAVKA... TA!

;-)

July Morning - AND Canada Day! Da!

Bulgarians who double up as Canadian-Bulgarian (in the same vein as Canadiens-Français - sort of) can enjoy two songs rather just one on this day of moving, among other things...

First and foremost, there is Uriah Heep's unforgettable anthem...

And then, there is the Canadian anthem, of course (duh!) of which we have found an alternate version, further ''alternated'' by someone who  undeniably thought of inserting a familiar face into the whole thing, for the utmost pleasure of all Bulgarians who love... Russia.

Hey, it could have been worse: it could have been Boiko and his clowns! 

Ha!  OSTAVKA!

But that's another story...!

Bulgarians Dream Of... Patriotism!

They always do - they always will!  And, on this day in which Cyril and Methodius are celebrated, one could add that the dream extends towards patriotic pride... the pride of having one's own alphabet, one's own language, one's own culture! And one's own identity, therefore...

Happy Baba Marta Day!

Chestita Baba Marta -  by Tanya Bartel

On this wondrous day, 

Bulgarians gift each other martenitsas 

- whether they are simple strings 

or cutefied figurines; the important thing is 

that they are red and white!

(Hey - like Santa! But, surely, 

that is just a mere coincidence...)

It's all about heralding spring coming 

-at long last- after the depressing 

winter temperatures...

(Ha - they didn't know 

how cozy they got it 

until they saw minus 35 degrees 

-Celsius, but still- 

in La Canada...! 

But that is another story...)

Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

Happy Baba Marta Day, 

Bulgaria!

Old Man Winter is about to croak - 

thanks, in part, to an old cranky granny...! 

My, oh my; this Baba Marta here 

is mightier than even one Baba Iaga

or that other baba, Baba Dochia...! 

Take that, Russia and Romania! 

;-)

Whether it is a stork, swallow or crane you see, 

or the first sign of a soon-to-be blossomed tree 

good times are just around the corner 

which will find you luckier and healthier! 

(For warmer...!) 

Though as heartwarming as any account can be, 

this particular retelling of those olden days 

back in the ''old country'' (as some extradited souls 

would say today) while being a tad too 

sentimental and nostalgic 

cannot avoid making us remark 

that their white martenista there 

looks so much like 

le Bonhomme Carnaval 

alas...!

:-(

We're in a state of shock over this -

courtesy, ironically, of Shutterstock!

Although, in their more generic forms, 

neither one should evoke 

any goofish creation 

several centuries younger...! 

In fact, the two dolls made of strings 

have a name:

it's Pizho and Penda;

Pizho the male in white (?) 

and Penda the female in red 

(ah, hence 

The Lady In Red...

no? Oh - okay.)

Anyway... Once again... 

Честита Баба Марта!

Upside down you turn me...?

Must be that Bulgarian ingenuity at work again -

that which makes them compulsively 

pull each other down the ladder...? 

Unless it's just Blogger Boogery again.

But that's another story!

Bulgarians Dream Of... Sainthood?

A special lugubrious blog simulpost... this time! 

Миските от конкурс за красота, наречен "Мис Южна перла", 

организиран от Киро Скалата, 

строени за снимка до паметник на баба ви Ванга! Ето:

MISKO of a beauty pageant called "Miss South Pearl", organized by Kiro 

- scale built for a photo memorial to your grandmother Vanga!

The granny in question is up for Sainthood indeed 

for many view her as a saintly grannie that helped so many 

(sort of like a Frère André, Padre Pio or Padre Cruz)

while others view her merely as some sort of a witch

who dabbled with, communed with and talked to the dead...

The saintliness of a prophetess and sainthood sound much better.

Let's see how many of these ''beauties'' here 

truly aspire to such a thing, now...

She knows for sure...!

Now, THIS monument should have been the site 

that Kiro there should have taken the girls to...!

Maybe next year...

;)

Bulgarians Dream Of... Faith, in 2014...?

"Because it is fragile Bulgarian people, gifted and patient, 
lied to and robbed of worlds and interests, 
by foreign advisers and their Godless kins.
Inside each of us there is so much phosphorus 
that it can make 2000 matchsticks. 
Can you imagine what a fire it would be?
Unreliable is this world, gentlemen, 
for people are fake, 
and most unreliable is time. 
 But when there is no faith, then it is terrible...''.

+++

Happy New Ostavka... er... Year, Bulgaria!

Courtesy of Yanne ''Ostavka'' Golev

And may the new year 

bring about the 

OSTAVKA 

we have been waiting for -

for 200 days now 

(and counting...!)

And Also Remember... The 17th Of November!

Today, we remember a marquee match-up during FIFA World Cup qualification history: a game which decided who would move on to play for the World Cup, and who would, as the Frenski say, mordre la poussière!  As it turned out, and quite fittingly enough, on the 17th of November 1993, it was Team France that did, bite the dust - and Team Bulgaria moved on to bigger and better things!

France and Bulgaria are flat out dead even in international competition as it stands now; however, back in 1993, it was the most memorable victory for Bulgaria over those damnable Frenski for it came amidst an incredible run for Team Bulgaria - one that saw them come just a little bit short of actually winning it all! One commentator was so elated, he exclaimed, with this 2-1 win sealed and delivered, ''God Is Bulgarian!'' - nothing less!

Let's watch THE DECISIVE GOAL:

Gotta love that ''EUROSUCRE'' ad-banner - priceless! 

Emil Kostadinov played for FC PORTO, I hear...? 

Épa - Portugalia! ;) 

Bulgaria would go on to be in the Final Four subsequently. They stood toe-to-toe with all the elite teams left in the competition at the time: Germany, Argentina and Mexico in the 1994 World Cup. And, even though the magical run would have a bitter ending (gorshivo?) ultimately, this is remembered as the most impressive display of team unity and execution on the field ever put on by the national selection - something that made the entire country of Bulgaria immensely proud! 

Viva Bulgaria! 

Remember, Remember, The 10th Of November...!

It was today that the people won -

and oppression lost! 

It was on this very date, yes, that 

the dictator abdicated - 

ushering in a new age 

for all the land...! 

It was on this day 

that hope shattered 

the dismal grey firmament 

that had permeated the atmosphere 

for decades of insufferable, 

inept and inane communism. 

Aye, it was today, 

November the 10th - 

back in 1989.

On this day, 24 years ago, the official start of the transition in Bulgaria was given, as Todor Zhivkov, the general secretary of the Bulgarian Communist Party, was discharged from his position.

And today, 

November the 10th,  2013 

we can hope anew. 

For, if communism is like a mythical hydra 

with a thousand heads 

- you slay one 

and ten more spring forth - 

Bulgaria does not lack sharp blades 

and fancy swords... 

Although, 

we all know that 

the pen is mightier...!

And a single word suffices:

#OSTAVKA! 

We can do it - again!

And, HEY, YO - NO, the colors of the flag are NOT upside down!

They're in the proper order of priorities required for the task at hand now! 

À Bon Entendeur, Salut!

Or rather... 

Zdrasti!

;-)

Say Zdravei To The Foundation...!

Ostavka Man was there... 

and The Foundation simply never knew...!

Dobrei...!

What a fine concert it was, still; 

full of raw emotion, nostalgia aplenty 

and great rock! 

Five -count'em, five!- Bulgarian artists 

of immense talent: 

Kiril Marichkov (“Shturtsite” - The Crickets!)
Ivan Lechev (of “FSB” renown)
Doni (one half of “Doni & Momchil”)
Slavcho Nikolov (of “BTR” renown)
and drummer Venko Poromanski (“Te”)

Five representatives of different groups 

united to bring Bulgarian music to Bulgarians abroad! 

Beautiful! 

They went on a sort of mini-tour across North America 

performing in Seattle and Toronto 

before landing in Montreal - 

basically, everywhere that there are, now, 

flourishing Bulgarian communities!

The songs they performed were familiar to me, too; 

all the hit songs that inspired 

generations of Europeans 

to reach out for their dreams 

and deepest aspirations. 

And not just each other's various hits 

but other bands hits, too 

(such as the quite emblematic now Kukla...!)

However, for the partly-Canadian Barbarian observer, 

appreciative of the sounds, beats, emotions 

but only -possibly- of a fraction of the lyrics 

(hey - it's all Greek to me, okay?)

it was like seeing the most compelling assemblage 

of diverse musicians ever assembled on one stage: 

imagine attending a show featuring 

Geddy Lee (it was good Doni looks and sounds like him;

and not like Donny of Donny & Marie!) 

André Rieu (Ivan Lechev can give André a run for his violin...)

David Crosby (Kiril projects the same aura -

he doesn't just sport the same hairstyle!)

Robbie Robertson (Slavcho is another Robbie, methinks...)

and Nir Z (of Genesis renown) on drums...

That's what The Foundation looked like to me! 

And that is, admittedly, a great foundation 

to keep on building upon, 

indeed!

Bravo! 

Viva Bulgaria! 

+++

Thanks, Joro! 

;-)

Hey, Bulgaria!

Three Years Ago...!

избиране 2.0

Dearly Departed Bulgarians Of Yesteryear...

Pray For The Bulgaria Of Today -

For They Know Not What They've Done. 

A-aaaaaaa- Mìn! 

+++

Христос возкресе!

Честит Великден

+++

ТРЕТИ МАРТ 1878

One of the most significant days of the year is being celebrated today, in Bulgaria and throughout the world - wherever there is or may be a Bulgarian presence, that is! And Google remembered...!



it is not surprising, of course, as Google always honors the best and the brightest - on any given special day of the year - and this is an exclusive of Google.bg (in other words, don't expect to find it on google.ca or google.whateverelse!)



Above here we have the perfect, for perfectly phonetic, representation of the word (okay, name...) "google" - in Slavonic alphabet, in Cyrillic really - in Bulgarian. Five sounds - five letters! It doesn't get any more efficient than this...!

But though fascinating this is, this is not the order of the day: the Bulgarian Holiday is. The Third of March - a true "Great Victory" took place on this date. The "officialisation" of that Victory, of the Liberation, was signed, sealed and delivered that day - making all the previous sacrifices, all the suffering, all the battles worthwhile. Oftentimes, such holidays imposed by the state merely purport to be a just cause for celebration, since it is a "great victory" only in the eyes of the state and of its agents, since all it really is is means to further their ideology and agenda.

It is definitely not the case here.

This is a true reason to celebrate, to commemorate, to remember in joyous as in mournful reverence - as today, those many years ago, a True Great Victory was achieved when Bulgarians finally achieved their dream of Liberation from their Turkish oppressors. They achieved it at a high cost - so many died in order to achieve this: Levski and Botev being but two who gave their lives. But their sacrifice was not in vain. Liberation was a FACT, finally, on this day back in 1878.

Freedom is therefore celebrated today - and that makes the Third of March a holiday for all of us, everywhere in this world: every single one of us who loves freedom, believes in eradicating all forms of oppression and vies for the ultimate Liberation; we all have cause for celebration today.

So... Happy Third of March to all!



+++