Here are some very interesting facts about Bulgaria that you probably didn’t know. These are curiosities that will surprise many visitors to the country. I hope to bring you something new and that all this will help you on your next trip to Bulgaria. I also think that it will be useful for you to make a decision and plan your visit to this little Balkan paradise well.
Head movement
Did you know that there is something very interesting that Bulgarians do, unlike everyone else. When they say no, they move their head up and down. To nod, they move it from left to right. So no is yes, and yes is no. Keep this in mind when you go shopping, to restaurants, or when talking to locals. Many people will not understand what you mean. To make things simple, instead of shaking your head, I recommend you answer with DA (meaning Yes, to agree or confirm) and NE (meaning NO, to deny or reject).
Natural hot springs
Bulgaria is the second European country with the largest number of natural hot springs after Iceland. There are more than 500 mineral water springs in Bulgaria. The temperature of the water in the springs ranges from 25 to 103 degrees Celsius. Due to the abundance of mineral waters, many hotels use this natural resource and have turned into spa centers with modern equipment. Bulgaria is gradually becoming a leading destination in Eastern Europe for balneological and spa tourism.
Rose oil
Bulgaria is one of the largest producers of rose oil. Currently, almost 85% of oil is produced in Bulgaria. In the past, the process, based on distillation, was traditional and carried out manually. Today, everything is quite automated with new technologies. The final product is widely used in cosmetics. To obtain 1 liter of oil, it is necessary to collect 3 to 5 tons of rose flowers. Most of the rose fields are in the Valley of Roses, between the cities of Kazanlak and Karlovo. Every year in June, thousands of tons of rose flowers are collected for the subsequent production of this liquid treasure. The flower collection campaign begins with mass parties in all cities. Music, fairs, competitions, even a rose queen is chosen.
Bulgarian yogurt
Bulgarian yogurt (Kiselo Mlyako in Bulgarian) is unique in the world due to the bacteria it contains that cause fermentation of fresh milk. Our yogurt is considered one of the first probiotic products in the world. The ancient Thracians, who lived in Bulgaria 7,000 years ago, already knew how to make it. There are scientific studies confirming its beneficial effect on the human intestine. In addition, it is believed that the bacterium Bacilius bulgaricus itself can only be grown in Bulgaria due to the specific climate of the country. Due to this process, the yogurt has a sour taste and a thick consistency. It is eaten at any time, sold in all stores and is widely used in Bulgarian cuisine for preparing many dishes.
Bulgaria as a state
Bulgaria is one of the oldest countries on the European continent. It was established as a country in 681 by Khan Asparukh, the first ruler of the state. Since then, the country has continued to be called Bulgaria, it has not changed its name for more than 1350 years. You have other information in the publication Information about Bulgaria. Precisely because it is an ancient country, Bulgaria is a paradise for archaeologists and historians. Hundreds of necropolises from the time of the Thracians, tribes that lived in Bulgaria thousands of years ago, have been discovered. Many archaeological finds have not yet been studied. Many remains and objects of the ancient inhabitants of these territories can still be found everywhere. The Kazanlak gold treasure is considered a treasure.
City of Plovdiv
Plovdiv is one of the oldest cities on the European continent and is among the six oldest cities in the world. Plovdiv can be compared in age to Troy, as it existed before Rome and Athens. Archaeological finds confirm that this place was already inhabited about 8000 years ago during the Neolithic era. Plovdiv is one of the few European cities that has not moved to this day. The city was originally called Evmolpia. Later, it changed its name several times until it remained with its current name. Plovdiv has an impressive old town. You can spend hours walking along its charming narrow streets. A paradise for travelers with a cultural profile, with an abundance of archaeological finds and monuments.
Cyrillic
The Bulgarian alphabet was created by the Bulgarians Cyril and Methodius in 885. Its official name, Cyrillic, comes from the name of one of the two brothers. Years later, the creation of Cyril and Methodius was improved by his student, the monk Clement of Ohrid. The current Bulgarian alphabet has 30 visual letters:
A, B, C, D, E, F, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, X, C, Ch, Sh, Shch, Ъ, Ь, Yu, Ya
Some very strange letters will catch your attention, such as Ъ (A is pronounced with a very closed mouth), Щ (a combination of the letters ш and т) or Ж (a consonant that sounds very similar to what Catalans say when pronouncing Jordi). As you can see, there are many others with a slightly strange appearance: Б, Г, Й, У, Ф, Ц, Ю, Я… Well, that's Cyrillic.
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