The Magical Folklore of BULGARIA! Ancient and magnifficent... Part 2

Although Bulgaria is not a big country, it's people have always been very strong and very hearted. Although being over 500 years in slavery, Bulgarians managed to keep their spirit and their identity alive! And as a Bulgarian I feel very proud. One of the main things, that allowed us to keep our identity is the Church and the Bulgarian folklore, so being part of a folklore ensemble makes me feel very proud. I spent the last 20 years of my life dancing and learning about our traditions, dances and the Bulgarian culture, and have never hesitated about pushing things forward and forward.

Now to the roses!
It’s not possible to escape the roses in Bulgaria. On remote mountain roads you will definitely pass old ladies in headscarves pedalling jars of rose petal jam and in the tourist shops you can buy vials of rose essence, or the gold-like rose oil(In 2016 The price of Bulgarian rose oil has exceeded €9,000 per kg). Even in the supermarkets of Sofia you’ll see mothers shopping for rose-scented shampoo and face cream or just pure rose water.
The obsession with these flowers originates in the Valley of the Roses, before the forested slopes of Sredna Gora, in the heartland of the country, east of Sofia. June sees the Rose Festival in Kazanlak, which closes with a colourful parade and a "Rose Queen" is elected. The geographical heartland of Bulgaria literally takes you right back to its ancient historical heart, because this is also the Valley of the Thracian Kings, famed for their love of gold. The most famous tomb is in Kazanlak, but there are also 1,500 tombs and burial mounds nearby. The ancient Thracian golden treasure has been found in a tomb near Kazanlak.
A gallop through Bulgaria’s history should also take you to her medieval capital, Veliko Tarnovo, where houses covered in vines and roses are precipitously piled up above the Yantra River. From there, drop down to Koprivshtitsa, looted by the Turks but now a maze of dusty blue, violet and pink houses. You definitely should buy some rose petal jam, coming here!

And now some photos from the second Anniversary concert of my ensemble. It's our 70-year anniversary.

Thank you for reading and seeing the post. If you like the article, please, upvote and follow me! @mdosev