What does the flag and coat of arms of Bulgaria mean. State symbols of Bulgaria

The country is a state symbol that expresses the independence and sovereignty of the Bulgarian people and state.

Modern coat of arms of the Republic of Bulgaria

The coat of arms of the Republic of Bulgaria depicts a golden crowned lion on a red shield. The shield is crowned with the crown of the Bulgarian kings of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. The shield, on the left and right sides, is held by two golden crowned lions. They stand on two crossed oak branches with fruits.

Under the shield are oak branches with a white stripe, on which the motto is written in gold letters: "Unification is the rule of silat" (Unity gives strength).

Elements of the coat of arms of Bulgaria

1. a lion, depicted on the central shield - the main structural element of the coat of arms. In the Bulgarian heraldic tradition, the lion was the most common symbol of Bulgaria and its rulers. On the shield is depicted standing, crowned, turned to the right side.
2. Shield- the main obligatory element, depicted in the form of a French shield.
3. Crown king of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom with five crosses and another cross.
4. Shield holders (shield bearers)- two golden crowned lions standing on their hind legs and looking at the shield. Lions are located on crossed oak branches with fruits. The motto is written on a white ribbon under the shield.

Unauthorized use of the coat of arms

It is not allowed to carry out the following actions with the image of the coat of arms:

• modify the coat of arms in any way
• change the proportions of the coat of arms (stretch, narrow)
• cant
• apply other colors than the official ones (recoloring the coat of arms)
• depict the coat of arms in monochrome or on a colored or black background
• image of the coat of arms in the negative
• depict the coat of arms on the flag of the Republic of Bulgaria
• apply any graphic effects in the image of the coat of arms, such as shadows, transparency, embossing and any other
• apply animation

Coat of arms of Bulgaria - photo

Coat of arms of Bulgaria - 1879

Coat of arms of Bulgaria - 1789 (Franz Johann Josef von Reilly)

Bulgarian coat of arms - 1741

Coat of arms of Bulgaria - 1614

Coat of arms of Bulgaria - 1483

Coat of arms of Bulgaria (in the traveler's manuscripts - XIV century.)

Coat of arms of Bulgaria

Coat of arms of Bulgaria

The coat of arms of the Republic of Bulgaria is a shield of red (scarlet) color, topped with a crown of the kings of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (1185-1396). On the shield is an image of a rearing golden crowned lion. The shield is held in the paws by two golden crowned lions standing on two crossed oak branches with acorns. Under the shield is a white ribbon with a tricolor border (the colors of the state flag of Bulgaria) and the motto written in golden letters in Bulgarian “Unification to rule silat”, which in Russian means “Unity gives strength”.

The lions on the coat of arms symbolize the power of the Bulgarian state. The crowns above them are a longstanding symbol of sovereignty. Oak branches are symbols of strength and nobility.

The coat of arms of Bulgaria was established on July 31, 1997 by the National Assembly of the Republic. The general appearance of the coat of arms is protected by the Law on the State Emblem of the Republic of Bulgaria of August 4, 1997, first published in the State Bulletin No. 62.

The modern version of the coat of arms is a slightly modified version of the coat of arms of the Third Bulgarian Kingdom, in the edition of 1927, which in turn was based on the personal coat of arms of Tsar Ferdinand I. Some of the elements of the modern Bulgarian coat of arms are known to heraldists in much earlier images. So, the image of a silver lion for the first time is found back in 1294, i.e. during the times of the already mentioned Second Bulgarian Kingdom. Under the last Bulgarian tsar Ivan Shishman (r. 1371-95), the image of a red lion becomes a state symbol. This can be indirectly judged by the records of an unknown Arab traveler who visited the city of Tarnovo at that time. The records speak of the image of three red lions, painted on a round golden shield, which was carried by the personal guard of Tsar Ivan Shishman.

By 1396, the entire territory of the Second Bulgarian and Vidin kingdoms was conquered by the Turks and included in the Ottoman Empire. The image of the lion continues to be used, but already as a symbol of the national liberation struggle of the Bulgarian people. The lion becomes golden. Since 1879, his image on a red background under the princely crown has become the state emblem of the country.

In 1908, after Prince Ferdinand I of Coburg proclaimed himself king, Bulgaria became completely independent. The Third Bulgarian Kingdom is formed. A golden crowned lion on a dark red field continues to be used as the coat of arms, however, the general appearance of the coat of arms was not fixed by a special law, therefore, for several decades various forms of it were used in Bulgaria, the middle of which (with coat of arms and the motto) was in 1927 It was established as a state one following the results of meetings of a special parliamentary commission.

On the map of Europe, you can find more than one country, the main official symbol of which depicts a formidable lion, symbolizing strength and power. The modern coat of arms of Bulgaria contains not one, but three lions, one is depicted directly on the shield, the others support the shield from two sides. Unfortunately, after the Second World War, the country that became a member of the Warsaw Pact and submitted to Moscow abandoned this symbol. The second advent of lions on the Bulgarian coat of arms took place in 1991.

Solemn and symbolic

The main state symbol of Bulgaria looks too pretentious, especially in comparison with the closest neighbors from the east. But, since the lion is even the national currency, there is nothing surprising in the appearance of beautiful predators.

For the Bulgarians, the selection of flowers was also important. The shield itself is scarlet in color, the lion depicted on it is golden. This composition is crowned with the historical crown of Bulgaria, which is also called the crown of the king of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. Five crosses are depicted on it, one more - above.

Two lions, also in gold color, hold the shield on both sides. They seem to be standing on the green branches of an oak tree with golden hearths. At the bottom, the composition is decorated with a ribbon with the written motto of the country.

winding story

Lions, in one form or another, have always been present on the coats of arms, seals and standards of the Bulgarian princes or kings. The very first lion recorded in documents dates back to 1294; in the first part of the Lord Marshal's scroll, a description was given of the coat of arms of the King of Bulgaria. In the description there is a silver lion crowned with a golden crown.

During the reign of Ivan Shishman (XIV century), his personal guards had shields decorated with the image of three red lions located one above the other. This was reported by an Arab traveler, and now this record can be seen in the National Library of Morocco. In 1595, the number of lions was reduced to one, which was depicted in red, standing on its hind legs in the center of the shield. In the 18th century, the color of the animal changed from a menacing color to solemn gold. But the shield, on the contrary, became dark red, scarlet.

From 1881 to 1927, the coat of arms of the Principality of Bulgaria began to look like a king, as a purple mantle lined with ermine was added, as well as state flags. With the change in the form of government in 1927, the form of the official symbol was approved, which coincided with the personal coat of arms of Tsar Ferdinand I.

The communist period in Bulgaria, which began in 1944, led to a radical change in the official symbols. Instead of a coat of arms, an emblem appeared. The golden lion was also present in the new image, but symbols imposed by neighbors from the east, wheat ears, a gear, a star were added.

With the return of independence in 1989, a few years later, the beloved lions took their places on the coat of arms of Bulgaria.

Overview of the national symbols of Bulgaria based on the materials of the Bulgarian foreign broadcast.

In the audio files in the review, you can also listen to several broadcasts from Bulgaria about Bulgarian symbols:

1. archival broadcast of March 2008 of the Russian edition of the Bulgarian foreign broadcast (“Radio Bulgaria”) about the symbols of Bulgaria. Also in this program, the modern Bulgarian anthem "Sweet Motherland" sounds.

2. Fragment of the Russian broadcast "Radio Bulgaria" dated 06/09/2011, where the anthem of the Bulgarian kingdom is played from 1886 to 1944. "Noisy Maritza".

Record transfer site.

Let's talk about the national symbols of Bulgaria - the coat of arms, flag, motto, anthem, as well as the motto and ... ponytail.

The coat of arms of Bulgaria is a lion.

However, the lion has not always been a symbol of the Bulgarian state, as well as the tricolor Bulgarian flag, which will be discussed below.

In ancient times, the horse's tail was the symbol of Bulgaria.

That's where we'll start this review.

The ponytail is the original symbol of Bulgaria

The Bulgarian foreign broadcasting "Radio Bulgaria" noted in its Russian program of 05/09/2006:

"Undoubtedly, The oldest known Bulgarian symbol is the horse's tail.- predecessor of the flag. He invariably fluttered over the well-trained and maneuverable cavalry, which defended the interests of the state. Bulgaria, as a state on the Balkan Peninsula, was created in the 7th century (meaning the period when the Turkic group led by Khan Asparuh (680-700) united with the descendants of the Thracians, as well as with the Slavic tribes, subduing the latter two on the territory of present-day Bulgaria. Note . Portalostanah.ru.)

During the following centuries, especially after the introduction of Christianity in the ninth century, flags made of fabric, emblazoned with creeds, appeared. Cohabitation with a horse's tail, however, survived until the time of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (XII-XIV centuries)."

The lion is a symbol of modern and ancient Bulgaria

Coats of arms of Bulgaria from the moment of declaration of independence from the Ottoman Empire to the present.

Coats of arms of Bulgaria from the moment of declaration of independence from the Ottoman Empire to the present. Everywhere the main character of the coat of arms is a lion.

The current coat of arms of Bulgaria was adopted in 1997.

Over time, the ponytail was forgotten. And for a long time the lion has become a symbol of Bulgaria and its statehood. "Radio Bulgaria" Russian broadcast from 05/09/2006:

Coat of arms of the Royal Guard of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (XIV century), which existed before the occupation of Bulgaria by the Ottoman Empire.

There are three red lions as the main symbols of this coat of arms.

Illustration from the website of the Bulgarian Heraldic Society.

« Now the main image on the Bulgarian state emblem is a lion. He is a symbol of strength, power, might and courage.

The king of animals was depicted on the eastern gates of the first Bulgarian capital - Pliska (VII-IX centuries).

In his travel notes, one Arab traveler mentions that on the shields of the guards in Tarnovgrad, the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (existed in 1185-1396, from the time when the Bulgarians freed themselves from the occupation of Byzantium, and before the Ottoman conquest. Note ..

The Bulgarian coat of arms with the image of a lion with a crown standing on its hind legs was present in handwritten and printed works on heraldry in Europe, even at the time when Bulgaria was under Ottoman rule (on the coats of arms of various European rulers who claimed Bulgaria occupied by the Turks. Note site ).

The lion was depicted on the banners and seals of the Bulgarian revolutionary organizations, embroidered on the flag embroidered for the uprising (1876) by the teacher Raina Popgeorgievna Futevova (known by the nickname Raina Knyaginya. Approx. site) ”.

In a later program of Radio Bulgaria dated 09/22/2010, the theme of the lion as a symbol of Bulgaria was developed:

“In Bulgarian folk mythology, the lion is a symbol of the highest, divine power, nobility, tranquility, prudence and justice. But there is another image of the "king of animals." In many Bulgarian folk tales, he is fooled by much weaker and smaller animals. But regardless of this, the lion in Bulgaria was a symbol of power and state power. and.

In our audio file #1 you can listen to an archive broadcast from March 2008 of the Russian edition of the Bulgarian foreign broadcast (Radio Bulgaria) about the symbols of Bulgaria. Also in this program, the modern Bulgarian anthem "Sweet Motherland" sounds:

• audio file #1

Transfer site recording.

Images of a lion in Bulgaria are found in various historical monuments. The oldest are the tiles found in the city of Stara Zagora. They date back to the 9th-10th century.

And in the famous “Chatalar inscription” of Khan Omurtag (also from the 9th century) it says: “Kan Omurtag ... living in the camp of Pliska, erected an aul on the Cloud ... and erected four columns in that village, and put two lions on the columns .. .".

The lion is also depicted in a unique rock drawing, known by the name.

The medieval bas-relief is among the Bulgarian monuments on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. The lion is also present in the symbolism of the Bulgarian kings, for example, one of the last rulers of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom - Ivan Shishman.

During the Renaissance, the lion was again the most common Bulgarian symbol. Monk Paisiy Hilendarski writes in his Slavic-Bulgarian History that the lion was depicted on the royal seal of the Bulgarians as a symbol of the courage and invincibility of the Bulgarian warriors who fought like lions.

For the great Bulgarian revolutionaries, the fight against Ottoman rule was unthinkable without a banner on which a lion is depicted. Even the most beloved national hero of the Bulgarians - Vasil Kunchev remained in history as Levski (from the word "lion").

The images of the lion on almost all the banners of the April Uprising (against the Turks) of 1876 are proof that the lion was perceived as a national symbol. During the preparations for the uprising, banners with an angry lion and the cherished words "Freedom or Death" were sewn in four revolutionary districts. Usually this work was done by isographers and teachers. And many of these banners are kept in many museums to this day. Mostly they are made of green silk, and the images are painted or embroidered. The lion is depicted in a heraldic pose, and with his feet he tramples on the crescent moon, the symbol of the Ottoman Empire. The same sign can be found on the clothes of the rebels - on the caps and buttons of the uniform, ”recalled Radio Bulgaria.

It should be noted that on all the emblems of Bulgaria of the new and recent period, the lion acted and acts as the main symbol. This also applies to the coat of arms of the Principality of Bulgaria 1879-1881, and the coat of arms of the Principality of Bulgaria 1881-1927, as well as the Kingdom of Bulgaria 1927-1946, which succeeded them. After the communists came to power in Bulgaria, and the formation of the Bulgarian People's Republic in 1946, the lion also remained the main element of the Bulgarian coat of arms and a symbol of the country, but it will lose the crown that was present in all the previous versions of the coat of arms of the country mentioned. Now the crown on the coat of arms has been restored, although Bulgaria has remained a republic.

And further "Radio Bulgaria" about the modern version of the Bulgarian coat of arms, as well as about another symbol of Bulgaria - the motto of the state, which was present on it in 1927-1948, and restored in the current version of the coat of arms, since 1997 - “Union to rule silata” (“In unity is strength”):

From the broadcast dated 05/09/2006:

“The new Bulgarian coat of arms was adopted in 1997 at a solemn meeting of the National Assembly. The authors of the project are the artist Kiril Gogov and the sculptures Georgi Chapkynov. In the center of the modern coat of arms of Bulgaria, on a dark red field in the form of a shield, there is a golden lion standing on its hind legs with a crown on its head. Above the shield is a crown, the prototype of which is the crowns of the rulers of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. The shield is supported by two golden lions. They stand on crossed oak branches with fruits. Under the shield is a white ribbon with a border of the colors of the national flag - white, green and red, on which is written in golden letters "In unity - strength » .

The motto of Bulgaria is "Unity is strength"» placed on the building of the National Assembly in Sofia. Many Bulgarians think that the motto is inspired by the Union of the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia in 1885, which were separated after the Liberation from the Ottoman yoke in 1878 at the behest of the Great Forces (“Great Forces” - this is how the largest powers of the world (Great Britain, Russia) are called in Bulgarian historiography , Germany, and so on), which in the new and recent period determined the situation in Bulgaria after 1879. Note site). The inscription "In unity - strength» however, Belgian. Since the first Bulgarian constitution, adopted in 1879, is based on Belgian law, this motto was adopted by the Bulgarian legislators. Before decorating the façade of the Parliament, it appeared on the first coins minted in Bulgaria after the Liberation.”

It should be noted that the presence of not one, but as many as three lions in the coat of arms of Bulgaria is sometimes unofficially (contrary to the Law on the Coat of Arms of the Republic of Bulgaria., publ. "Darzhaven Vestnik", issue 62 of 08.04.1997) is interpreted as follows: these lions supposedly symbolize three main parts of the Bulgarian lands - Moesia, Thrace and Macedonia. From the point of view of heraldry, such an interpretation is also incorrect, because two lions on the coat of arms are auxiliary elements - shield holders in relation to the third lion - the main element of the coat of arms, and therefore cannot be equivalent symbols. Although the version about the meaning of lions on the timely Bulgarian coat of arms as symbols of Moesia, Thrace and Macedonia, was mentioned in the Radio Bulgaria program in Russian from March 2008 (listen to the recording of this program in audio file #1 at the top of the page).

Bulgarian flag

Since the restoration of the Bulgarian statehood, after the overthrow of the Turkish yoke, and until now, the flag of Bulgaria has practically not changed.

On ill. left: flag of Bulgaria from 1879 to 1947 It has been restored unchanged since 1991.

On ill. right: 1971 to 1991 the traditional flag of Bulgaria was supplemented by the placement of the communist emblem on it, but the color scheme of the flag did not change.

Illustration from the website of the Bulgarian Heraldic Society.

And now about the Bulgarian flag. First, a quote from a Bulgarian source. "Radio Bulgaria" from 05/09/2006:

“After Bulgaria fell under the Ottoman yoke at the end of the 14th century, the flag, as a sign of statehood, disappeared. However, squads of haiduks and rebels had their own banners. They were an expression of the desire of the Bulgarians for a free Bulgarian state and self-sacrifice before the altar of the fatherland. “Freedom or Death” was written on a famous banner sewn by the teacher Rayna Knyaginya for the April Uprising in 1876, the peak of the liberation struggle of the Bulgarians against Ottoman enslavement.

The creation of the first Bulgarian tricolor flag is associated with the name of Georgi Rakovsky, the ideologist and founder of the organized revolutionary movement in Bulgaria. Its colors were the same as the modern flag - white, green and red, only in a different order. (While in exile, Rakovsky in 1861-1862 founded on the territory of Serbia (and under the patronage of the Serbian government) the first armed formation of the Bulgarians in modern history - the so-called Bulgarian legion (legion), to fight the Turkish occupation of Bulgaria. It was the flag this legia became what was later proclaimed, as already mentioned, in a slightly modified form as the flag of Bulgaria.

A year after the Liberation from the Turkish yoke, in 1877, the Constituent Assembly approved the national flag of white, green and red, arranged in a horizontal order, as a symbol of the independence of the Bulgarian state.

The meaning of the colors of the flag of Bulgaria

Officially, the meaning of the colors on the Bulgarian flag is not defined in the country's legislation, however, unofficially it is believed that the Bulgarian flag was created under the influence of the Russian white-blue-red tricolor, then adopted in the Russian Empire as the country's commercial flag. At the same time, the blue stripe for the Bulgarian flag was replaced by a green one as a symbol of agriculture and the blossoming nature of Bulgaria.

At the same time, in the broadcast of Radio Bulgaria from March 2008, it was indicated that, according to legend, red, white and green colors in the form of ribbons were present on the shafts of the mines of the ancient Bulgarian army. A white ribbon was tied on the shafts of the spears of the regiments of the left flank (lightly armed and maneuverable horsemen), a red ribbon was tied on the shelves of the right flank (heavily armed horsemen) and a green one - at the central regiments (elite formations). And this was allegedly also accepted when choosing the colors of the Bulgarian flag in the 19th century.

The flag of Bulgaria has remained unchanged in color from the moment the country was liberated from Turkish rule, until the present. However, during the communist period of 1946-1990. in the left corner of the flag there was an image of the coat of arms of the Bulgarian People's Republic - a lion with a star above it framed by ears of corn.

Bulgarian anthem

And in the third part of this review about Bulgarian hymns. Russian broadcast "Radio Bulgaria" from 05/09/2006:

“After the reunification of the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia in 1885, the first Bulgarian national anthem was approved - « Shumit Maritza» . It was the national anthem of Bulgaria from 1886 to 1944. The original version of the text was written by Nikola Zhivkov, and after many versions, the last edition of the poet and writer Ivan Vazov from 1912 remained.

In turn, the program "Radio Bulgaria" from 09/09/2009 supplemented:

“There were several songs in the role of the anthem of Bulgaria. P The first official anthem after the liberation of Bulgaria in 1878 was called “Shumit Maritsa”, then (since 1944) the composition “Our Republic, hello” became the anthem (1944-1950). The third anthem was called "Bulgaria, dear" (1950-1964). Gradually, the need for a new anthem arose. So a modern one appeared - “Sweet Motherland” (since 1964, and with changes after 1990).". End of quote.

"Shumit Maritsa" ("Shumi Maritsa") - the anthem of the Bulgarian kingdom from 1886 to 1944:

In our audio file #2 you can listen to a fragment of the Russian broadcast (“Radio Bulgaria from 02/03/2011, where the anthem of the Bulgarian kingdom from 1886 to 1944 “Shumit Maritsa” sounds:

• audio file #2

Transfer site recording.

Mentioned in the anthem of the Bulgarian kingdom of the new period (the so-called Third Bulgarian kingdom, the name of the kingdom comes from two ancient Bulgarian states), which was active from 1886 to 1944, maritsa(Bulgarian Maritsa, Greek Εβρος, Turkish Meriç, Latin Hebrus) - this is a river, one of the longest in the Balkans. Its source is in Bulgaria.

Under the dushman horde and in general the enemy who offended the widow, and with whom the Bulgarian lion fights, in this hymn is meant the Ottoman Empire, for independence from which Bulgaria fought in the previous period. Later, the song, which became the national anthem, raised the morale of the Bulgarians in the war with Serbia., which began shortly after the liberation of Bulgaria from the Turks, - noted the Bulgarian foreign broadcast. Then Serbia, according to the Bulgarians, treacherously attacked Bulgaria. The cause of the war was border disputes (listen audio file #2).

Shumi Maritza

okarvena,

weeping widow

severely wounded.

Chorus:

March, march

from our general!

Let's fly into battle

Let's defeat the enemy!

Bulgarian Cheda,

tsyal holy not a single sight.

Hai kum victory

glorious let's go.

Chorus:

March, march

from our general!

Let's fly into battle

Let's defeat the enemy!

Levut Balkan

into battle like a giant

with ordi dushmanski

drive or cry.

Chorus:

March, march

from our general!

Let's fly into battle

Let's defeat the enemy!

Young and sultry

in a whirlwind of carnage.

Niy sme worthy

let's take laurels.

Chorus:

March, march

from our general!

Let's fly into battle

Let's defeat the enemy!

Niy laugh of the people,

for honor and freedom

for the sweet kind

who knows yes mre.

Translation

Shumit Maritza,

bloody,

Weeping, widow,

Badly wounded.

Chorus: March, march,

March with the general

We'll hurry into battle

We will defeat the enemy!

Bulgaria children,

Before the eyes of the world

To your victory

Glorious we will come.

Chorus: March, march,

March with the general

We'll hurry into battle

We will defeat the enemy!

Our Balkan lion

To fight the giant

With the Dushman horde

We are led, winged.

Chorus: March, march,

March with the general

We'll hurry into battle

We will defeat the enemy!

With a young, sultry spirit

In a whirlwind of fierce slaughter

Let's be worthy

We'll get laurels.

Chorus: March, march,

March with the general

We'll hurry into battle

We will defeat the enemy!

We are a brave family

For honor, freedom,

For the good of the people

We can accept death.

Chorus: March, march,

March with the general

We'll hurry into battle

We will defeat the enemy!

“Our Republic, Hello” (“Our Republic is Healthy!”) - the anthem of Bulgaria (Bulgarian People's Republic) in 1944-1950:

The anthem "Our Republic, hello" was very ideological, branded fascist terror and emphasized the republican form of government (for the first time adopted by Bulgaria, but in the perverted form of the Soviet republic).

Yarema on timidity severely

And darkness on the siva

Niy srinahme with fire and word

The struggle is cruelly unequal.

Chorus:

Republic of our people,

Our republic is healthy!

The earth is never free,

Live freely today!

For us freedom is holy

And we still scold with love

Kravta on bortsite, shed

For every hollow and moat.

Chorus:

Republic of our people,

Our republic is healthy!

The earth is never free,

Live freely today!

For ours and alien tyrants,

Rodino, there is no space in you!

Niy remember bezbroynite rani,

Fascist karvav terror.

"Bulgaria, dear" ("Balgariyo mila", also known as "Bulgariyo mila, land of heroes" "Bulgaria, dear, land of heroes") - the anthem of the Bulgarian People's Republic from 1950 to 1964:

Bulgarian mila, earth for heroes

bezspiren and powerful e your entry!

Yes, stronger forever syuzt no slaughter

with great brotherly Soviet people!

Chorus:

Great sun for Lenin and Stalin

with light si our spot light up.

Dimitrov for the feat of the sarts sunk,

in borbat and in peace work is not solid.

Chorus:

The glory of our republic is free!

Guardian of the world adamantly be!

Is the enemy attacking the land or relatives,

Do not dare to drive into battle until victory!

We build backwaters, open mini,

nivyata are wide zadruzhno yell.

For our sk'pa, beautiful homeland

prepare labor and let us give you a belly!

Translation

Dear Bulgaria, you are the land of heroes,

Your rising is unceasing and powerful

May our military alliance grow forever

With the mighty fraternal Soviet people!

Chorus:

The great sun of Lenin and Stalin

Lighted our path with its rays.

Dimitrov lit his feat in our hearts,

He rallied us in the struggle and in peaceful labor.

Chorus:

Hail, our free Republic!

You must be the guardian of the world! —

If the enemy attacks his native land,

Boldly lead us into battle until victory!

We build factories, we dig mines,

We plow wide fields together.

For our dear, beautiful homeland

We are ready to give both work and life!

"Sweet Motherland" ("Mila Rodino") is the anthem of the Bulgarian People's Republic in 1964-1990 (pre-revolutionary song with the addition of two verses reflecting the revolutionary socialist orientation and alliance with the USSR):

Proud of Stara Planina,

before her Dunava blue,

slantse Trakiya ogryava,

over Pirin flames.

Mila Rodino,

ti si earthly paradise,

ah, those nyamat edge.

Padnaha bortsi without a count

we love for our people,

Mayko, give me a bit of strength

Let's continue with them.

Friendly brother Bulgari,

Moscow is with us in peace and battle,

the party is great,

Nashiyat is victorious.

Translation

Proud Balkan Mountains,

To the blue Danube

the sun warms Thrace,

burning over Pirin.

Chorus:

dear motherland,

You are heaven on earth

ah, they don't have an edge.

Palo wrestlers without an account
For our beloved people,
Mother, give us courage and strength
Continue their path.

Friendly brothers Bulgarians,
Moscow is with us both in peace and in war,
The great party leads
Our winning line.

"Sweet Motherland" ("Mila Rodino") is the modern anthem of the Republic of Bulgaria since 1990:

In our audio file #1 ( at the top of this page) you can listen to an archive broadcast from March 2008 of the Russian edition of the Bulgarian foreign broadcast (“Radio Bulgaria”) about the symbols of Bulgaria, where the modern Bulgarian anthem “Sweet Motherland” sounds.

Proud of Stara Planina,

before her Dunava blue,

slantse Trakiya ogryava,

over Pirin flames.

Mila Rodino,

ti si earthly paradise,

your hubost, your charms,

ah, those nyamat edge.

Translation

Proud Balkan Mountains,

To the blue Danube

the sun warms Thrace,

burning over Pirin.

Chorus:

dear motherland,

You are heaven on earth

Your beauty and your charm

ah, they don't have an edge.

And again a fragment from the program "Radio Bulgaria" dated 09/09/2009:

“The story of the song “Sweet Motherland” is interesting. Its author is Tsvetan Radoslavov from the city of Svishtov. His father and both grandfathers were not only rich and well-educated people, their names remained in Bulgarian history due to their huge contribution to the spiritual and political development of the Bulgarians.

(Tsvetan Radoslavov was born in 1863. Approx. site). Tsvetan Radoslavov's private music teacher was the composer and creator of the first choir in Bulgaria, Janko Mustakov.

In 1885, Tsvetan Radoslavov volunteered for the Serbian-Bulgarian war. At that time he was a student in Austria. On the ship, on his way to Bulgaria, (at the age of twenty-two) he composed the lyrics and melody of a song called "Proud Stara Planina". Later, scientists will establish that the music is to a large extent reminiscent of the horo, which was very popular at that time in Radoslavov's hometown. Both the text and the melody of this composition have changed many times. At first, the reason for this was the fact that the song immediately became a folk song. It has been included in a number of songbooks and collections without mentioning the name of the author. Even the sisters of Tsvetan Radoslavov, who sang it with pleasure at all family and public holidays, found out much later that it was written by their elder brother.

Tsvetan Radoslavov then was a teacher at the famous "Aprilovskaya Gymnasium" in the city of Gabrovo, and then in Ruse and Sofia. He taught Western and ancient languages, psychology, ethics, and logic. (Died in 1931. Approx. site)

When in 1964 the socialist government announced a competition aimed at choosing an anthem, the commission did not approve any of the proposed compositions.

At that time, the song "Sweet Motherland" was known in the arrangement of the composer Dobri Hristov, which used part of the original. Ultimately, it was decided that "Dear Motherland" should become the anthem of the People's Republic. The text was revised by the poets Dimitar Metodiev and Georgy Dzhagarov. Saved the first phrase - "Proud Stara Planina". The rest has been changed. Later, composers Philip Kutev and Alexander Raichev will make a new orchestration of this composition.

After the democratic changes of 1989, part of the text in which the words “Moscow is with us both in the world and in battle” disappeared,” the Russian broadcast of Radio Bulgaria noted;

The review was prepared by the site based on the materials of the Bulgarian foreign broadcasting, as well as other Bulgarian sources; Recordings of Bulgarian international broadcasts are taken from the website archive.

State flag The Republic of Bulgaria consists of three horizontal stripes of equal size: white above, green in the middle, red below. The first of them personifies freedom and peace, the second- forests and agriculture, the third - the blood shed in the struggle for state independence.

Previously, the Bulgarian flag in the upper left corner depicted the coat of arms of Bulgaria, but it was removed from the flag in 1991, in accordance with the new constitution of the country. The aspect ratio of the flag has also been changed from 2:3 to 3:5. The flag without a coat of arms (in proportion 2:3) was used as the commercial flag of the People's Republic of Bulgaria.