When we adjusted our schedule a new event was added for Monday night, a Modern Art exhibit was happening in town. So dressed in our finest attire we departed for the event. We looked forward to this event with great anticipation. Little did we know what was really in store for the July birthday girls (Andrea, Pat and Stephanie). We didn’t have a clue.
Pushing open the heavy wooden doors we entered a marble foyer. Following the highly polished stairs was a little like walking down the marble brick road. Up we went, then down, then twisting all around until we reached a room with tables set with cloth napkins, wine glasses and plates of cheeses and meats. Where was the art?
Surprise! Our fellow Fulbrights had organized a cultural event to celebrate our birthdays! Evelina , our revered professor, joined us at our special event. Our hearts were overwhelmed with their generosity and kindness. Their thoughtfulness brought tears to our eyes.
We were treated to a history of the wine making business in Bulgaria via video. What an interesting industry for this country. As we sampled three different Bulgarian wines we learned the art of tasting wine. Georgi, the sommelier taught us to appreciate wine with all five senses. First you look for clarity, then color. In red wine, a blue tint indicates youth while an orange hue indicates age. Then smell the wine by swirling it in the glass. Finally, taste the wine by chewing it in your mouth. Then we listened to the appreciation of the group.
Afterwards, we toured the wine cellar and went upstairs for dinner and dancing. It was a night we will never forget!
Bulgaria under Communism July 7, 2008
Ø In 1944 the Red Army marched into Bulgaria. The Father Land Front maintained power. This group was composed of the following parties: communist, Agrarian, Socialist and Zveno
Ø In 1946 this group passed a referendum that abolished the monarchy. The republic of Bulgaria was established.
Ø A huge demographic shift occurred when peoples in the mountains and rural villages were forced to move into the cities. Before communism 80% of the population was in the rural areas after 80% were in the cities. This was done so that they could have ultimate control over the masses.
Ø Collective farms were established which ruined the agriculture of the country. Since people who worked the land were sent to the cities there weren’t enough people to work the land.
Ø In the city people were assigned apartments and told how many people could live in the apartments.
Ø Moving all peoples to the city was meant to dilute the social strata so as to squelch any signs of unrest.
Ø Secret police and the military had all the power. They watched and reported about the citizens. Microphones were also used to record conversations everywhere, even in your home.
Ø Soviet Union issued all the orders for what was happening in Bulgaria. Bulgarians had no say.
Ø Mistrust and suspicion were the feelings everywhere.
Ø The churches were subdued at all levels. Often heads of the churches were spies for the state.
Ø People were persecuted, tortured and put in concentration camps.
Ø The well educated and professional population was under very close scrutiny. The archive of Internal Ministries held documents on people, 25 km of files. Many were denied access to jobs, travel and education.
Ø Free education and medical care was available for all but what you studied was controlled and bribery for good medical care existed.
Ø Factories were built but failed because of mismanagement.
Ø The arts (dance, theater, music) suffered.
Ø No one could travel abroad.
Ø A phony sense of security existed with everyone getting the same amount of money, educational opportunities, and medical care. But no luxuries such as shoes, sanitary pads etc. As a result people lacked incentive, responsibility, and the right to think freely.
Ø The communists created a feudal society with a small non-educated ruling class.
Ø Post communist Bulgaria
Many current developments exist because of the communist era. Many people have no concept of civil service. Bulgaria didn’t have a well-prepared dissident group to become leaders. So the former leaders and their families still maintained control. It is widely recognized that corruption is a major problem in this country.
Ethnic Groups in Bulgaria
Romani
v Originated in northern India and migrated during the Roman Empire era. In the 18th century they were forced out of Romania, Spain and Hungary and they settled in Southeastern Europe.
v Population 400,000 to 500,000 now but this is the largest growing population. The largest group live in Plovdiv; they number around 80,000.
Under communism put into ghettos to control them.
v Prior to that many of them had skills to support themselves. Now unemployment is high. Many of them do jobs that no one else would do but receive no pay such as, collecting abandoned household items and sweeping the streets. Some travel doing construction jobs.
v Only a small part of them are trained to be thieves.
v They have their own language but no written alphabet. Most of their culture is an oral tradition.
v Most of the children in orphanages are Romani.
v Children are quick learners but school is not valued. So they are barely educated.
v Homes for the elderly are devoid of Roma. They are kept in the community and cared for by all.
Turks
v Prior to communism lived in villages.
v Population 1,000,000v In 1944 they were given the right to cultural autonomy which meant they could establish their own schools
v They are bilingual which means they speak both Bulgarian and Turkish.
v They are Muslim.
v Well educated and peaceful people.
v Under communism they were perceived as the enemy. Now some Bulgarians don’t trust them.
v In 1984 they were forced to take Bulgarian names which meant they couldn’t maintain their autonomous rights. So 300,000 to 350,000 went to Turkey but many came back.
v Live in Bulgarian neighborhoods where they are peaceful, supportive and cooperative neighbors.
Pomaks
v Reside in the Rhodophi mountains in traditional villages. Their homes are very colorful.
v Population 100,000 to 150,00
v They are Muslim and speak the Bulgarian language.
v During the Ottoman rule they converted to Muslim for economic and political reasons. If they converted they could buy a house. For this reason Turks didn’t honor their conversion.
v Keep the Bulgarian folklore, music, textiles and traditions alive.
v Rejected everything associated with the Eastern Orthodox Church. Hated the corruption of church officials.
v 1972 forced to change their names to Bulgarian
Karakachaniv Population 12,000
v Some believe they are the remnants of the Thracians.
v Their name means “black headed”
v Prior to communism they were the shepherds. The communists took all their sheep
v Eastern Orthodox Religion Jews
v In 1945 there numbers were 45, 000 now they number around 1,000.
v They left when Israel was created. They boarded two ships and as the ships left the harbor the sea turned red because they discarded their party cards.
v Lived in cities because according to the Catholic Church law they didn’t have the right to buy land.
v They were kicked out of Spain and only the Ottoman Empire would welcome them.
v They built schools and temples in the cities.
Armenians
They have been city dwellers since the Roman Empire.
v Many have immigrated to America.
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