“TRADITIONAL BULGARIAN CALENDAR” ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPEDIA
The publication “Bulgarian Traditional Calendar” was realized on the basis of the published content of “Calendar Holidays and Customs of the Bulgarians”, and a new original illustrated encyclopedia was developed. The 100 articles are supplemented with 395 illustrations (149 ritual actions, objects and participants in the festive ritual, 29 festive tables, 41 festive and ritual breads, 37 icons of saints and 14 icons with biblical subjects). Part of the illustrative material was provided by museums in the country, another part was photographed by the Vion publishing team especially for the book. The rich visual information gives the reader the opportunity to touch the specifics of the Bulgarian tradition, to its uniqueness in linking folk ideas, beliefs and ritual actions with the Orthodox Christian calendar. The purpose of the publication is to acquaint the Bulgarian and foreign readers with all the cultural wealth that can be covered by the concept of Bulgarian calendar-holiday rites. The publication is published first in Bulgarian, and then in English, and presents the Bulgarian calendar holidays and customs as part of the “living human treasury” of Bulgaria. Carried over the centuries and helped to preserve us as a nation, they are still woven into the modern celebration, preserving its ethnic identity. The national wealth that has preserved the soul of the Bulgarian is a true message from antiquity that we must know, pass on to our heirs and promote to the world. The editor-in-chief of the publication is the distinguished connoisseur of traditional culture Prof. Dr. Maria Vasileva. Compilation and encyclopedic preparation was carried out by encyclopedic editors at the Scientific Information Center “Bulgarian Encyclopedia” at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. The book was realized after winning a course at the National Center for the Book. Layout and design are the work of “Vion” publishing house.
Bulgarian edition, 2002, ISBN 954-950-137-X
English edition, 2003, ISBN 954-950-138-8
