Bulgaria is a country with surprises up its sleeve. Mountains and beaches kiss under its skies while yogurt and roses parade proudly through its culture. Here, you’ll find ten fun facts and trivia about Bulgaria that you (probably) didn’t know.
In this small but mighty country, life moves at its rhythm. Cyrillic script calls it home, being birthed here in the 9th century. Yogurt here isn’t just food; it’s a tradition with Lactobacillus bulgaricus making it extra special. Regarding longevity, the Bulgarian State was founded in 681 AD, making it one of Europe’s oldest. Meanwhile, in quiet valleys, roses mature into world-famous oil.
1. Shake for Yes and Nod for No
In Bulgaria, people often express agreement by shaking their heads from side to side and disagreement by nodding up and down. This might be the opposite of what you expect! Interestingly enough, aware of the difference, some Bulgarians might switch to the more commonly known nods for ‘yes’ and head shakes for ‘no’ when interacting with foreigners. This can make for a puzzling situation, so it’s best to clarify with a clear ‘da’ for yes or ‘ne’ for no if you’re ever unsure.
2. Infinite Number of Magazines
In Bulgaria, the press enjoys freedom, meaning the printing of newspapers faces no strict limits. This leads to an environment where anyone with a printing press can jump into the fray, launching their publication without hassle. Consequently, counting every magazine or newspaper circulating in Bulgaria isn’t just tricky; it’s an ever-shifting target.
3. Too Dibu Dubu Dau Choo
In Bulgaria, humorous moments capture attention on the internet. A well-known video, perhaps one of the first viral videos in a pre-Twitter world, features a singer from the Bulgarian version of a famous television talent show. During her performance, the contestant attempted to sing “Without You,” Mariah Carey’s hit song, but with a twist. The lyrics were misunderstood, leading to “Ken Lee” instead of “Can’t live,” which brought laughter and widespread sharing online back in the day.
4. Helpful Bacteriae
Lactobacillus bulgaricus, the friendly bacterium named after Bulgaria, plays a key role in the production of yogurt. Discovered in 1905 by the Bulgarian doctor Stamen Grigorov, this bacterium has been central to dairy processes. Yogurt made with Lactobacillus bulgaricus is known for its smoothness and unique tang. This specific strain of bacteria aids digestion and contributes to gut health.
In Bulgaria, yogurt isn’t just a food; it’s part of cultural pride. Ancient rituals and recipes dating back thousands of years include yogurt because of its longevity properties. Science reinforces these beliefs by suggesting Lactobacillus bulgaricus may support longer lifespans due to its probiotic nature.
5. Dropping a Bomb
In the early skies of military aviation, Bulgaria soared into the history books with a quite bang-up innovation: they were the first to drop bombs from an aircraft. During the First Balkan War – we’re talking about vintage aircraft here, not your modern fighter jets. Bulgarian aviators thought, “Why not?” And boom! just like that, they became pioneers in aerial bombardment.
6. That’ll Be 9.99 EYPO, Please
Bulgaria holds the honor of being the first country whose main language uses the Cyrillic script to join the European Union. Looking ahead, a big change waits when Bulgaria switches to the Euro currency. Money, like bills and coins, needs new designs so that “Euro” shows up in all three major scripts of the Union – those being Latin, Greek, and Cyrillic.
7. Hole-y Land
Bulgaria holds a treasure trove underground. Over 4,000 caves, holes, and caverns wait silently under the rolling hills.
8. The Oldest Nation
Bulgaria holds the title as Europe’s oldest country. Established in 681 AD, it hasn’t changed its name since its founding. While other countries have evolved through time with new names and borders, Bulgaria stands steady with its centuries-old identity.
9. They Stood Up to the Nazis
During World War II, Bulgaria was allied with Nazi Germany yet faced a moral dilemma. In 1943, there was pressure to send Bulgarian Jews to death camps in Poland. However, Bulgarian leaders, including Deputy Speaker of Parliament Dimitar Peshev and Orthodox Church officials like Metropolitan Kiril, took a brave stand. They fought against the deportation plans. Protests broke out and ordinary people voiced their disagreement with the Nazi demands.
The government canceled the deportation orders, saving thousands of lives. This act of defiance is a significant chapter in Bulgaria’s wartime narrative.
10. Naming Babies Was Never as Easy
Traditionally, Bulgarians take their first name from their paternal grandfather and their surname from their father’s name, changing the suffix depending on the person’s gender (-ov for boys, -ova for girls). That’s how, in some cases and depending on the generation, you can find people named the same, like Angel Angelov or Ivana Ivanova.