Join us for the traditional Bulgarian community picnic to celebrate St. George's Day. The event is organized by the Bulgarian School “Sts. Kiril and Metodii ” and the Bulgarian Church “St. Petka“. Food will be served by the organizers. Every portion of food comes with a raffle ticket.
When: May 26th, 2024 at 3:00PM
Address: Larz Anderson Park,
350 Goddard ave, Brookline, MA
The park’s entrance is on Goddard Ave, Brookline.
Snejana Iovtcheva
Program Coordinator and Registrar
Member of the Board of Directors
"Sv.sv. Kiril and Metodii”, Boston and Cape Cod
snejana@bg-school.org
Over the course of three days between May 9th and May 11th, a number of exciting events took place in Boston to mark the 25th anniversary of the Bulgarian School in Boston. The quarter-century anniversary of the school gathered the Bulgarian community and many guests among which were: Mr. Georgi Panayotov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Bulgaria in Washington, Mr. Angel Angelov, Consul General of the Republic of Bulgaria in New York, Mr. Adam Portnoy, Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Mrs. Raina Mandjukova, Executive Director of the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad (EABA), Mr. Georgi Boshnakov, Director of the Board of "Little Bulgarian School" in Chicago and Mrs. Gergana Neykova, Director of the Board of the Bulgarian School in Nantucket.
Meeting with Representatives from the Community
The 25th anniversary celebrations began on Thursday evening, May 9th, with a meeting and dinner in the building of the Bulgarian School. The guests toured the building and the educational facility and met with the school management, representatives of the Bulgarian Center in New England, the Bulgarian Church in Boston, the Bulgarian Cultural Center Madara, the organizers of the Rose Festival and the leaders of the dance ensembles Ludo Mlado and 7/8mi. We spent the evening in friendly conversations and productive discussions about future cooperation and initiatives. We would like to remind you that the school, the center and the church reunited a few years ago in their desire to purchase their own building, which now houses not only the school, but is also home for the entire Bulgarian community. It hosts social and cultural events, classes, private events and Sunday church services.
Meeting with Local Businesses and Professionals
The second event took place on Friday evening, May 10th. The official guests met with local scientists, professionals, and entrepreneurs, many of whom are long-term donors, sponsors and supporters of the school and the Bulgarian Center. Mr. Georgi Panayotov, Mr. Angel Angelov and Ms. Raina Mandjukova also participated in this meeting and met many representatives of the community who expressed interest and desire for cooperation and networking. The acquisition and maintenance of the building and the community events are possible thanks to the generosity, responsiveness, and social engagement of the local Bulgarians. We thank them from the bottom of our hearts for their continuous support that allows us to unite the community and to maintain and spread the Bulgarian language and culture! The work meeting turned out to be extremely productive and gave the beginning to talks on creating a local "Club of Bulgarian Businesses", which would facilitate a common platform for contacts, information, and friendships.
Methodological Forum and Lunch
The third event took place on Saturday morning, May 11th. We had a methodological forum with a working lunch to discuss the mission of the Sunday schools abroad. Bulgarian teachers from Boston, Cape Cod and Chicago shared their experience and discussed best practices for more effective teaching and engagement of students. We thank Mr. Georgi Panayotov, Mr. Angel Angelov and Ms. Raina Mandjukova for their participation at the forum and for being open to hear our needs and ideas. We discussed the many challenges of sustaining the heritage schools in the United States, which are largely supported by the enthusiasm of individuals and small businesses. In the spirit of national revivalists, Sunday schools abroad survived through difficulties and have continued to be the torch of Bulgarian education. Such is the case with our Cape Cod branch, which was forced to close during the pandemic in 2020, but as of 2023 has reopened its doors to the enthusiastic 26 students and their families. At the meeting, we also discussed the success of our students who pass the Bulgarian language exams organized by Sofia University and receive the Seal of Biliteracy in Bulgarian. Some of these students attend institutions of higher education in Bulgaria. In the words of Ms. Mandjukova, "25 years is an awful lot" and we have long since answered the questions "if" and "why". We have established ourselves as an institution with a stable base, valuable experience, and organizational structure. According to her, from now on we must continue with the question "how", to meet the needs of future generations, so that our children's children continue to come to Bulgarian schools.
School Concert "The Magical World of Childhood"
Immediately after the work meeting, the guests went to the historic Robbins Memorial Town Hall in Arlington, a suburb of Boston, where a spectacular school concert "The magical world of childhood" took place. Over 350 guests, parents, teachers, and students enjoyed a wonderful concert, where each class had prepared a favorite song from our childhood: Djado Rjapa Vadi, Chervenata Shapchica, Yan Bibian, Pipi Dalgoto Chorapche, Boratino, Detsvo Moe and many more favorite songs prompted the audience to sing along and rise to their feet.
In his role as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mr. Georgi Panayotov read out loud and presented a congratulatory letter from Prof. Dr. Galin Tsokov, Minister of Education and Science in Bulgaria. Ms. Raina Mandjukova presented our school with a plaque for overall merits for maintaining and spreading the Bulgarian language abroad and awarded the school head Ms. Silvia Mihaleva with the "Ivan Vazov" medal (link to the other article). The president of the school, Mr. Rosen Dimitrov, was awarded an honorary badge by the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad for his significant contribution to preserving the Bulgarian linguistic and cultural-historical heritage and for keeping the Bulgarian spirit and self-awareness alive in Boston and the region. Celebratory greetings from the "Little Bulgarian School" in Chicago and the "Rodna Rech" school in Sarasota, Florida, were also presented to the public. The Nantucket School greeted us with a cheerful rachenica dance on stage.
School Gala
The last event for the day was the school’s gala. The elegant event took place in the Royal Sonesta Hotel on the banks of the Charles River with a fabulous view of Boston's night skyline. More than 100 guests attended the gala. After the cocktail and greetings, the Bulgarian Honorary Consul in Boston Adam Portnoy presented a citation to the school and its accomplishments from the Governor of the State of Massachusetts, Mrs. Maura Healy. The most active members of the school were awarded for their unreserved dedication to the mission of the school.
The gala entertainment included a number of exciting performances. Students from the local Cambridge Ringe & Latin School choir greeted the guests with an a cappella version of the Shopska folk song "Dilmano Dilbero". The choir director and fellow countrymen, Mr. Ivan Stefanov chose this song as a gift to the school and elevated the energy of the event from the very beginning. The Boston dance group Ludo Mlado, the young girls from the 7/8th folk formation, and musicians from Berklee College of Music charged the atmosphere with Bulgarian rhythms and invited guests to the dance floor. The crown of the evening was the presentation of our alumni. Their casual, warm, and cheerful memories from their time at the school moved the audience. We are proud that our school has been a learning center and a place for friendships for more than 1000 students over the 25 years of its existence.
The school's 25th anniversary has turned into an emblematic and memorable event! We thank our amazing organizing committee who dedicated their time and energy to organize the celebratory events with such attention to the smallest detail.
Snejana Iovtcheva,
Program Coordinator,
Bulgarian School Boston
During Saturday school hours on March 30th, our school in Boston fulfilled a long-awaited meeting. A group of 20 students, teachers and parents from the Bulgarian Saturday School in the island of Nantucket, traveled a long way to participate in a joint Saturday lesson with the students from the Bulgarian School in Boston - an extremely exciting event full of educational activities, tasty food, musical performances, and most of all new friendships!
We opened the lesson with warm greetings and short presentations of the two schools. The school in Boston was represented by the president of the school, Mr. Rosen Dimitrov, and Mrs. Zhaneta Marinov presented the Bulgarian school in Nantucket.
The youngest students joined regular classes in the first grade classroom, where they immediately felt at home. Mrs. Kristina Georgieva had prepared fun activities for getting to know each other, a discussion of the lesson on line breaks and syllable transfer, and picture painting based on Angel Karaliychev's story "In the nest". The young students got involved actively and were happy to be part of such a large class with children from another school where the Bulgarian language is spoken.
The older students participated in a large open lesson in mixed groups with the Boston students from the middle and high grades. The lesson began with introductions in small groups, with each student telling about their interests, hobbies and most interesting character traits. It was no surprise to anyone that for the majority of them the favorite place was "Bulgaria" or "the beach". It quickly became clear how many similar interests and knowledge the children share. They "melted the ice" between them and quickly fell into friendly conversations.
Mrs. Petya Koeva and Mrs. Silviya Mihaleva conducted the first educational quiz, which included questions about the Bulgarian language. Each of the six teams had one minute to answer questions related to Bulgarian spelling, synonyms, idioms and grammar rules. Students feverishly and enthusiastically debated the correct answers and sought to earn the most points for their team.
Mr. Ivan Batchvarov held a quiz on the geography and history of Bulgaria. Here, the questions covered information from the very creation of the First Bulgarian State to present day. The students competed to correctly answer questions such as "When was Bulgaria created?", "What was the first capital of Bulgaria?", "Which ruler can we call the Lawgiver and who the Baptist?". The shared knowledge united the children and made them proud of their achievements in the Bulgarian Saturday schools.
During recess the Boston parents had arranged a lavish food spread for the guests. Students used the time to play outside together and teachers to share professional experiences and compare academic curricula.
Returning from recess, the students from Nantucket performed three folk dances. Accompanied by their folk dance choreographer Mrs. Kristina Hristova, they presented rachenitsa, Djinovsko horo and Thracian horo. The students from Boston performed three songs guided by their choir teacher Mrs. Zdravka Nikolova. We ended the long day with the emotional song "One Bulgarian Rose", to which the entire hall joined in and applauded.
While teachers and students had a full school day with conversations and language games, visiting parents used the sunny weather to meet Boston parents at a local beer garden and make new friendships, too.
The parting in the end was emotional and warm. We exchanged contacts, shared photos and left with the promise of a new future meeting - this time on the island of Nantucket.
We thank everyone - the children, teachers and parents for the wonderful organization!
Sylvia Dimova-Alharthy and Teodora Dimitrova-Torres
Teachers, Cape Cod Branch
Snejana Iovtcheva,
Program Coordinator, Boston Branch
The Saturday School in Cape Cod celebrated the Bulgarian holidays in the month of March with a wonderful spring concert that brought together and excited young and old. The long-awaited concert took place on March 30th at the West Barnstable Community Center in Cape Cod.
The celebration began with the performance of the national anthem of Bulgaria by the students with teacher Teodora Torres. Everyone rose to their feet, and the music and the lyrics made their hearts flutter - there were even moist eyes among our guests. "One mother told me that she hadn't heard the Bulgarian national anthem for years and was very moved!” shared Sylvia Alharthy, teacher of the youngest students in the children's group. "The anthem of Bulgaria, performed by the students, not only motivated them from the very beginning to learn it extremely quickly, but also somewhat to my surprise, proved to us how seriously the students can take a project that somehow intuitively caught their attention with its significance. The children showed interest from the first auditions in class and their performance showed the respect they put into presenting it to the audience. We can only congratulate them!” added the students' teacher, Mrs. Teodora Torres.
After the national anthem, the group of the 5-year-olds performed on stage poems about Baba Marta, March 3rd and March 8th. The wonderful performance of the song "Mama" by Angel Bashev, especially touched the mothers in the audience.
Based on the picture tale "Under the Mushroom" by Vladimir Suteev, Silvia Alharthy created a play for the youngest students. With the help of the assistants Adam Alharthy, Yana Kichukova, Gabriela Torres, Joana Dokleva and Martin L'Heureux, The youngest students recreated the plot of the play with great artistry, colorful sets and fabulous costumes. This was the first play in Bulgarian for these young children in front of a large audience. Their performance showed a great desire and motivation to perform flawlessly and their results made them really happy.
After the forest story, the class of the older students performed the poem "Mimeto" by Asen Bosev. A cheerful and original story about a spoiled girl called Mimi, who manages to subjugate all members of her family with her whims. The humorous side of the story managed to grab the audience as well. All of the children knew their text perfectly and presented the comedy professionally.
Another March holiday that was presented at the concert was Sirni Zagovezni (The Great Lent). The grandmother of one of our students, grandmother Maria, told the students and the audience about the traditions in the different parts of Bulgaria, related to Sirni Zagovezni, the meaning of forgiveness and the tradition of the kukeri. She also gave a demonstration of the "hamkane" custom by tying a boiled egg on a red thread and told the students how people in Bulgaria jump over fire for cleansing and health.
To make it cheerful and fun, each child got to jump over an improvised fire and received a small Bulgarian flag as a token. At the end, everyone sang the song "Our flag is tricolor".
"The mood of all the children, parents and guests was extremely festive and cheerful. Some parents have told me personally that they are really impressed with how hard we, the teachers, work and how we put into learning all this with the children, despite the limited three hours we have on Saturdays!” shares Mrs. Alharthy. We also thank the administrators from our central branch in Boston, who have sent us t-shirts for all our students with the name of our common school. This way everyone felt like part of one big family.
Snejana Iovtcheva
Program Coordinator
"Sv. Sv. Kiril i Methodii Heritage School”
Boston and Cape Cod
The Bulgarian Center in New England gathered the Bulgarian community in the historic town hall in the city of Melrose on the national Independence Day of the Republic of Bulgaria. The theme of this year's concert was "Flowers of Bulgaria" as a metaphorical reference to the children, who are our future and greatest gift.
And the children of our community are the students in our Saturday school "Sts. Kiril and Metodii” who participated in numerous performances, as well as in the organization and presentation of the concert.
Following the tradition, the concert began with the anthem of the Republic of Bulgaria, inspiringly performed by Zdravka Nikolova and Albena Dimitrova. Standing tall and with our hands on our hearts, we all felt the elation of our national belonging as we prepared for the festive program.
First on stage were the youngest participants, who are the first grade students. They performed the song "Praznik" (Celebration) to the music of Stefan Diomov. For many of them, this was their first performance in front of a large audience and we are grateful that they were given the opportunity to perform and present themselves with a beautiful Bulgarian song.
This was followed by an inspiring recital by Samuel Flashenburg, an 8th at the Bulgarian school in Boston, who presented Dimitar Pantaleev's poem "Mojata Strana" (My Country) and recited with spirit and eloquence the symbols and beauty of Bulgaria.
The 4th grade students prepared one of the favorite Bulgarian songs for young and old. They performed "Dŭga" (Rainbow) by Viktor Chuchkov and Dragomir Shopov and reminded us that during the hours at the Saturday school, friendship and engaging conversations are the most important ingredients for success.
The 6th grader Riya Koemdzhiev joined with a solo performance of the unforgettable song "Detelini" (Clovers), with lyrics by Asen Oshanov and music by Asen Gargov. Riya, as well as the other participants, learned the songs on Saturdays under the skillful musical direction of Mrs. Zdravka Nikolova.
Katya Hatcher, a third-grade student, presented the poem “Zemya kato edna choveshka dlan” (Country as big as a human palm). With heart-stirring emotions and impressive eloquence, she expressed her love for the beauties of Bulgaria.
The song “Planetata na decata" (The Children's Planet) was performed by our former students Tanya Gancheva and the sisters Deana and Ivanina Nedeltchev, who captivated the audience with the beauty of their trained voices.
The two recent graduates, Daniel Flashenburg and Kalina Mihova, performed the poem "Bulgaria" and set an example of social commitment in the community.
In the second part, the concert moved on to the dance performances. Current and former students of different age groups participated in the vibrant performances of the "⅞" and "Ludo Mlado" ensembles. The "Ludo Mlado" dance ensemble, led by Pepi Petrov and Marieta Mircheva, participates in numerous festivals and concerts, and is an inseparable part of the Boston Bulgarians. The "7/8" dance club, led by Marieta Mircheva, organizes folk dance classes for everyone 4 years and up every Friday in the building of the Bulgarian School and is quickly becoming a rallying point for all young and old, whose hearts beat to the rhythm of ⅞.
Youth and adolescents had the opportunity to act as presenters and assistants during the concerts. Andrea Dimitrova and Dian Solovey, Peter Iantchev and Ivanina Nedeltchev, Karina and Vincent Anastasia, Mila and Martin Andreev skillfully introduced the program of the concert and welcomed the participants on stage.
The concert concluded with the song “Edna bŭlgarska roza” (One Bulgarian Rose), performed by all participants on the stage. In his final speech, Mr. David Flashenburg, in his role as the president of the Bulgarian center, thanked the organizers, the helpers and the participants for the wonderful evening and reminded us of the significance and importance of cultural communities in a society.
Here is the place to acknowledge the vocal director and teacher most heartily. Mrs. Zdravka Nikolova who unreservedly prepared all the students from our Saturday school for the concert. Zdravka, as everyone fondly calls her, has been an integral part of our school since 2011 in her role as a teacher, administrator, and music teacher.
Organized by Vancha Kartalova, Gergana Ivanova, Lily Flashenburg, Viktoriya Anastasia and Veneta Andreev, the children took up this year's concert with ardent desire and got the opportunity not only to perform on stage, but also to gain experience in the organization and responsibility for the event. In this way, we, the parents, introduce the cultural world of Bulgaria to them and at the same time invite them to recognize the community as their future cause.
This concert marks a long tradition that gathers Bulgarians and friends of Bulgaria and promotes the Bulgarian language, culture and spirit. It is made possible thanks to the financial support of local businesses who generously support our cultural events and allow us to create opportunities for performances and enrichment for our children.
Our sincere thanks go to:
New Home Real Estate
Balkan Enterprise
Godly Smoothies
Law office Vassil Nenkov
Law Offices of David S. Flashenburg
Ruhl Jahnes Architects
We thank the photographer of the event, Mirena Chavdarova for the wonderful photos. We thank Father Rumen Pelovski and the helpers from the Bulgarian Church of St. Petka in Boston for the organized dinner. We thank the 96-year-old Mrs. Mima Sheitanova from the town of Tvarditsa, who hand-made and donated a whole basket of beautiful martenitsas for the Bulgarians from Boston. For yet another year, she mailed all the martenitsas to us from Bulgaria and delighted the guests at the concert. We also thank all the businesses that donated material and cash prizes for the rich raffle, which was organized by Viktoria Anastasia and was held with a charitable purpose for the needs of the center.
Finally, we want to thank and acknowledge all the committed volunteers, parents and like-minded supporters who make our events unforgettable. Through countless dedicated hours of work and effort, we all weave together the threads of our cultural community and create a beautiful Bulgarian identity beyond the borders of the homeland. We create opportunities for our children, connect businesses and foster partnerships, and most of all, create friendships that bring us closer together and fill our causes with meaning.
Dear friends, we hope to see you very soon again at the future concerts and community events!
Ivanitsa Nesheva
member of the Cape Cod Parent Organization
Silvia Alharthy
teacher
The Bulgarian school in the Cape Cod branch celebrated Baba Marta - one of the most cherished Bulgarian customs with a long tradition that goes thousand of years back. On this holiday, everyone gives their loved ones a special amulet called martenitsa, for health and strength. The martenitsa is made from white and red thread. The color white symbolizes purity, innocence, joy and beauty. The color red is a symbol of vitality, health and love. In Bulgarian folklore, red is also a sign of victory, life, bravery and the light of the rising and setting sun.
We started the Saturday school day with a story about Pijo and Penda and we made our own Bulgarian martenitsas. We then welcomed Baba Marta. She told us the legend of the martenitsa and wished us never to separate and to always stay together as the white and red threads of the martenitsa are woven together. The good old woman gave every child and adult a handmade martenitsa. She truly recreated this Bulgarian holiday with great inspiration. Mrs. Zdravka Nikolova played the accordion and sang for us, and we continued the celebration with some Bulgarian “horo” dance and small Bulgarian pastries and sweets. Each child also received a spring flower in the colors of March with a wish for health. "It was an unforgettable day, filled with many surprises and emotions!", said Silvia Alharthy, teacher of the youngest school group at the branch.
Without the efforts, participation and help of teachers, parents, relatives and friends, our children would not have been able to experience and see this Bulgarian tradition. Thank you for a great day full of surprises and emotions!
Snejana Iovtcheva
Program Coordinator and Registrations
snejana@bg-school.org
The Liberation Day, officially known as the Day of Liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman Oppression, is the national holiday of Bulgaria, celebrated on March 3th. It commemorates the Liberation of Bulgaria during the events of the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878) that led to the re-establishment of Bulgarian statehood.
On this exciting occasion, students from the Bulgarian School in Boston participated in two meetings with Prof. Plamen Petkov. The young students of the early grades learned how Bulgarians were dressed more than 150 years ago and what their houses looked like. They also learned what guns the Opalchenci (bulgarian voluntary army units) used during the famous Shipka battle used and where we can see authentic letters written by the bulgarian hero Vasil Levski. The guest showed many photos and short films, presented interesting facts - such as the creation of the first grammar of the modern Bulgarian language and the Tarnovo dialect, which was chosen as the literary language. These stories sparked interesting questions and discussions.
During the second meeting with the junior high school students, Prof. Petkov presented additional facts from the Liberation of Bulgaria - such as how the United States of America and people from Massachusetts contributed to the Bulgarian revival. The students also learned about the war journalist Januarius MacGahan, who played a key role during the Bulgarian Liberation.
Prof. Plamen Petkov is the author of the most successful Bulgarian series - "The Bulgarians". He also has a YouTube channel with informative videos about Bulgaria and he currently works at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard. We thank him for this visit and for his ongoing cooperation with our school!
Snejana Iovtcheva
Program Coordinator and Registrations
snejana@bg-school.org
Following our long tradition, the students of the Bulgarian Saturday School in Boston welcomed Grandma Marta “Baba Marta” and participated in the beloved March 1st folklore festivities. The students and teachers welcomed the beloved guest with poems, songs and happy faces. This year, two wonderful women, who are grandmothers of our students, impersonated the charming guest and they were delighted by the warm welcome in our classrooms.
In the early morning, Sofia Reed's great-grandmother, the 86-year-old Grandma Vesa, toured all the classrooms. Sofia’s great-grandma is visiting her great-granddaughter here in Boston and she gladly agreed to visit our school. The young students were very interested in Grandma Marta's life in Bulgaria and asked many questions. Grandma Marta told them about the white storks, which begin to return to Bulgarian in March and announce the onset of Spring.
In the afternoon, the grandmother of 4th and 8th grade students Mila and Martin Andreev took on the role of the cheerful guest. She is also currently visiting her grandchildren in Boston and happily joined the Saturday classes at the Bulgarian School to share the wonderful March 1st custom with the children from Boston.
We are grateful to the parent organization and the parents who took care of making martenitsas, for coordinating with the teachers, as well as for the wonderful photos with Grandma Marta.
Some facts about the Bulgarian Martenitsa custom:
Every year on March 1st, Bulgarians prepare and exchange Martenitsas - red and white amulets, tassels, bracelets - to celebrate and welcome Spring.
The custom is to wish good health and prosperity to the person when you give the martenitsa.
In Bulgarian schools and daycares, it is usually Grandma ‘baba’ Marta , who visits and ties mastenitsas to all children.
The person wears the martenitsa until the first day of spring and then ties the martenitsa on a branch of a flowering tree.
Snejana Iovtcheva
Program Coordinator and Registrations
snejana@bg-school.org
Winter in the state of Massachusetts is capricious and unpredictable, sometimes threatening us with snowstorms, sometimes with icy winds. But our Saturday classes at the Bulgarian School in Boston are warm and enriched with the beautiful colors of the Bulgarian winter holidays.
Following the winter break, the students returned to the classrooms motivated and rested. In many of the classes, they learned and practiced the “Survakar” customs, with which Bulgarians welcome the new year and wish each other health and prosperity. They watched short films on how hundreds of Bulgarian men mark the Orthodox Epiphany feast by dancing to folk tunes in the icy waters of Bulgarian rivers and discussed the tradition of Name Days that are celebrated in Bulgaria.
During the cold January days, kindergarten and preschool students studied winter animals and life in the mountains. Through interactive activities, the students learned that the mountain is an invariable part of the Bulgarian landscape and that the highest peak on the Balkan Peninsula is called Musala, located in the Rila mountain.
The “Kukeri” and the Kukeri customs were also present during the school hours. The students listened to legends about the origin of the Kukers, studied the materials and the meaning of the Kuker clothing, worked on Kuker masks, and danced to the sounds of mountain chans.
February started with pink valentine cards. The students wrote cards and kind greetings in Bulgarian on the occasion of Valentine's Day, exchanged small gifts and filled the building with hearts and happy smiles.
On February 18, Bulgaria honors its greatest historical hero - the Apostle of Freedom Vasil Levski. During the weeks of February, the younger students got involved in the topic "Vasil Levski" by watching short films, working with questionnaires, assembling craft books, creating small texts and doing "lion's" jumps. Older students worked on thematic posters, participated in inter-class quizzes and gave presentations on the work, life and significance of the national hero.
In preparation for the upcoming holidays, the students also studied the March festivals in Bulgarian culture. In addition to making “martenichki” in a number of extracurricular workshops during the month of February, the students listened to folklore tales about grandmother Marta and her brothers Golyam and Malak Sechko and about Pijo and Penda. The Asparukh's legend of the Martenitsa, which tells about the origin of the Old Bulgarians, was also part of the lessons.
For yet another year, our school organizes a Bulgarian language and literature exam in collaboration with Sofia University (SU). The test serves for the acquisition of a Certificate of Proficiency in Bulgarian as a Foreign Language. This is an internationally recognized certificate with indefinite validity that certifies the level of Bulgarian language proficiency according to the Common European Framework (CEFR) and according to the standards of the Association of Language Testing Centers in Europe (ALTE). Students will take a B2 level test, which is equivalent to the Massachusetts "Seal of biliteracy with distinction".
The exam (written and oral part) will be organized by the Academic Director of the school Silviya Mihaleva with the school administrator Zdravka Nikolova serving as a proctor.
On Sunday, April 7 at 9:00 a.m. local time (4:00 p.m. Bulgarian time). The duration of the exam is about 5-6 hours.
The exam will be held in the building of a Bulgarian school:
310 River St
Billerica, MA 01821
The exam consists of two parts - an oral exam (speaking) and a written exam (listening, reading and writing).
The oral exam includes an interview, two dialogues based on given situations, a monologue and a comment on a given text or picture.
The written exam is performed on a computer and includes 3 sections:
Listening with understanding;
Reading Comprehension;
Writing - two tasks for writing a text of a given length on a given topic.
The obtained seal and certificate are recognized by many schools in the state, and are also considered as a final grade when applying to Bulgarian higher education institutions. The minimum age to appear for this exam is 14 years.
Our school is organizing a Preparatory Course which starts now on February 1st. The course will be led by Silvia Mihaleva and Petya Koeva and includes 10 sessions of one astronomical hour each and will be held online every Thursday from 7 pm. The fee for the preparatory course is $150.
The fees for the exam and the preparatory course are as follows:
| SU exam, mailed certificate, proctor fee | 115+11+30 =$156 |
| SU test examples (non mandatory) | $11 (for 1 test) |
| Preparatory course (non mandatory) | $150 |
Please pay the fee by January 31 at the following link from the school page: https://www.bg-school.org/donate, by writing a comment to the payment order "the name of the student, what are you paying for" (SU exam, preparatory course, trial tests).
If you have any questions, please write to Silviya Mihaleva.
For a third consecutive year, the Bulgarian school in Boston is organizing a full-day summer camp in Bulgarian. Following last year's success and the requests of the community, this year we are opening pre-registration for weeks from mid-June to mid-August.
Depending on whether the minimum number of registrations is reached, we will announce and confirm the camp weeks on April 16th.
The camp will be held in the building of the Bulgarian school in Billerica.
"Words, words, words", "Cultures around the world", "Animals and plants around us and in Bulgaria", "My favorite mekichkis", are some of the numerous topics around which the children will practice the Bulgarian language with creative activities, projects and walks outside. The camp will be led by experienced teachers and enthusiastic helpers.
For more information, check out the reviews and photos from last summer and fill out the registration form.
If you have questions, please email: snejana@bg-school.org or silviya@bg-school.org
Snejana Iovtcheva
Program coordinator and teacher
snejana@bg-school.org
Parents, relatives, students, teachers and friends of the Bulgarian school "Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii” in the city of Boston gathered on December 16th in the grand hall of the city of Winchester to share the joy of the Christmas holidays. With the help of their dedicated teachers, the students recreated Bulgarian Christmas traditions and customs.
The concert began with an opening address from the president of the school, Mr. Rosen Dimitrov, as well as from the academic director, Silvia Mihaleva and the representatives of the parents' organization, Victoria Anastasia and Veneta Andreeva.
The host presenters Zdravka Nikolova and Daniel Flashenberg introduced the audience to the folklore theme of the concert and directed the attention of the public to a short video in which students from the virtual classes of Mr. Deyan Penev, Ms. Jasmina Atanasova, Ms. Vasilka Georgieva greeted everyone with poems dedicated to Christmas Eve and the Christmas miracle.
After that, the third graders took the stage with teacher Svetlana Dimitrova and assistant Vili Stoilova. They performed the song “Tiha nošt, svyata nošt", which is the Bulgarian version of “Silent Night, Holy Night", and filled the hall with their beautiful voices.
Ignazhden marks the beginning of the Christmas holidays in the Orthodox Christian Calendar. According to the Christian tradition, it is believed that the Virgin Mary entered into labor on this day. In folk songs it is said that: "The Mother of God suffered from Ignazhden until Christmas." The fourth grade students with Mrs. Svetlana Dimitrova were dressed in colorful folk costumes and performed the song with energy and vigor.
In Bulgaria, Christmas is during the cold month of December. The weather does not allow for working outside the house. However, life and work are bubbling inside the homes. The students of second grade with their teacher Mrs. Snejana Iovtcheva and assistant Martin Draganov present in a play what happens on the night of December 24th and how a traditional Bulgarian family prepares for welcoming Christmas Eve or "Malǎk Božik".
On the morning of December 25th, we celebrate “Koleda” or “Božik”. The Bulgarian word for Christmas “Koleda” originates from the Latin word "callendi", the beginning of the annual holiday and work cycle. The students from the alternative class with teacher Mrs. Zlati Shishkova study Bulgarian as a second language and for them this school performance was the first. They performed the traditional children's Christmas song "Kolade Lade".
The Koledari are the Bulgarian Christmas Carolers who roam the streets on December 25th and visit every household. The 8th and 9th grade student with teachers Mrs. Stella Wasson and Mrs. Margarita Ivanova took the stage with a splendid performance. The boys were led by the dance director of the Boston folklore ensemble "Ludo Mlado", Pepi Petrov. Mr. Petrov took time on Saturdays to share Bulgarian traditions and dances with our students at the Bulgarian school. The girls welcomed the Koledari in traditional dresses (nosii) and handed out pretzels, popcorn strings and pita.
We've all heard of Kukeri, and some of us have attended the loud and colorful festivals in Bulgaria. Rituals called The Kukeri Games are a type of carnival games held in Bulgaria between New Year and Sirni Zagovezni (Lent). The Kuker customs are one of the oldest, dating back to the time of the Thracians. The school classes of Mrs. Petya Dobreva, Mrs. Silvia Mihaleva, Mr. Ivan Bachvarov presented this winter ritual with a story and stage performance.
After the dynamic and colorful performance of the Kukeri, the kindergarten classes with teachers Mrs. Iren Hristov and Mrs. Zornitsa Vodenska together with their assistant Ivanina Nedelchev brightened up the hall with a Christmas Râčenica, a vibrant and beloved folk dance.
With the new year comes also the favorite children’s ritual of Survakari. It is a ritual for children to pat the elders with decorated sticks and to wish them health. The first grade students with their teacher Mrs. Kristina Georgieva and assistant Deana Nedelchev performed the song "Survakari".
Over the past few Saturdays in school, our students decorated colorful Survački. Students from the virtual classes of Mrs. Jasmina Atanasova and Mrs. Vasilka Georgieva were present at the concert to remind us of some of the most famous Survački poems and to show their own handcrafted Survački.
Finally, the youngest students from the preschool groups of Mrs. Darina Tsonevska and her assistants Ella Shishkova, Dara Mashova and Atanaska Vancheva greeted the guests with the folk song "Zdrava, zdrava godinčica" and performed a horo dance.
This year's folklore theme enriched the Christmas celebration of our school with the colors of folk costumes and patterns. With a mirriad of performances, our students demonstrated how beautiful and colorful the winter holidays are in Bulgaria.
At Christmas, however, the children are expecting a special guest! He did not forget to stop by our Christmas concert. Santa Claus greeted everyone and distributed gifts to all children in the hall.
Here we would like to thank Mirena Chavdarova for the magnificent photos and video of the concert. Mirena captured so many special moments and created wonderful memories for all of us with an extremely professional eye and artistry.
After the concert, all the guests were invited to continue the celebration with delicious food, a raffle with many prizes, as well as a donation sale in support of a children’s organization in Bulgaria. All this was organized by the parent organization of the school, which made sure to create an unforgettable celebration for the school community.
We extend our gratitude also to the local businesses who supported our cause and donated certificates and gifts for the Christmas raffle:
Energize - Energize organic
“7/8” Bulgarian Folk Dances
Rofinka Hair Design
VinKari Safari: Children's Indoor Playground and Party Place
Pini's Pizza
Salon TL, LLC
Brandon Eash @ Eash Dental
Petrova Chocolates
Plumr
Euro Food Hub, LLC
DesiDivine
Bay state eye - Damyanova eye associates
Svetlana Dimitrova Photography
Pats Peak ski area
Благодарим и на многото семейства, които дариха средства и подаръци
Thank you for your generosity and support!
All funds raised from the raffle will be used for the upcoming projects at the school building in Billerica.
We wish you all happy holidays and may the new leap year bring us prosperity and health!
Ivanitsa Nesheva
a member of the Parent Organization
The Christmas celebration of the Bulgarian School in Cape Cod was a dream come true for our community! It is wonderful to be together with young and old, to hear favorite songs from our childhood and create a true Bulgarian experience for our children. After extensive preparations, the children armed themselves with patience and gathered courage to sing the songs and say the poems. In the end, they really exceeded our expectations with their knowledge and courage and created a festive holiday atmosphere.
During the concert, the guests were treated with a long list of favorite children’s songs: “S chervenite botushki”, “Tiho se sipe pŭrviyat snyag”, “Znaya koĭ e toĭ”, “Pesen za snezhinkite”, “Survakari”, “Dŭzhd mi vali, snyag mi trupa” and “Byala Koleda”. The children sang with eagerness and enthusiasm and the audience was moved by their performance.
Let's not forget the wonderful poems that even the three-year-old students had memorized and recited in front of everyone. We owe this wonderful performance to the teachers and their persistence and faith in our children, as well as to the parents for helping with rehearsal.
After the concert, gifts were distributed and we were all treated with delicious food provided by the wonderful parents and teachers. It turned out that everyone was very good this year and Santa did not miss a single child when giving out presents.
There was also a holiday raffle with prizes and many winners.
We extend our gratitude to the local businesses in Cape Cod who support our causes and donated certificates and gifts for the celebration:
Domino’s pizza
Yarmouth House of Pizza
Alberto’s Ristorante
Crazy Rooster Pub & Grill
Cape Treasure Desserts
AvaLina Treasures
Food Port International Market
N.Y. Hair CO. & SPA
Hot Diggity
Nove Yoga
Inspire Simply by Dilyana Stoevа
Through their generosity, our school is able to support the "Karin Dom" foundation in Bulgaria.
A small portion of the funds from the raffle will be used for the enrichment activities of our school. The traditional survatchki that were made by the children during the Christmas workshop in school were also sold at the celebration, as well as delicious gingerbread made by Cape Treasure Desserts and unique Christmas ornaments made by Inspire Simply by Dilyana Stoeva.
A magnificent and exciting day filled with great emotions, happy children, satisfied teachers and infinitely grateful parents, grandparents, and friends.
Merry Christmas to all and may we stay united and like minded in the New Leap Year!
With a huge and heartfelt gratitude to the community of the Bulgarian School in Boston and Cape Cod we announce that with joint efforts the two branches of the school collected 1,140 USD. The full amount will be transferred to the foundation's account in Bulgaria.
The campaign began with the creation of a page on the school website, which informs our community about the causes and needs of Karin Dom. The school administration spread the word to parents, teachers, friends and supporters of the school, inviting everyone to get involved with direct donations. Students, teachers, assistant teachers and parents all participated by creating items for sale at our Christmas celebrations in both branches: Christmas cards, decorations, cookies.
During the opening address at the Christmas concert at the Boston branch, the president of the school, Rosen Dimitrov, made an additional appeal, directing the attention of the guests to the donation box and talked about the social commitment of our community.
At the Cape Cod branch of the school, the fundraiser included winter crafts, sweets and donated items.
Thank you to everyone who took part in the school's Christmas campaign with effort and time! Thank you to all donors! Once again, a noble cause united us in our efforts for a better world for our children, a world in which there is empathy, responsibility and hope.
We wish you a merry, bright and warm Christmas and a happy New Year!!
Snejana Iovtcheva
Program coordinator and teacher
snejana@bg-school.org
The Christmas concert of the Bulgarian Saturday school in Boston took place this Saturday. The concert of the Boston branch welcomed over 300 people and once again reaped a huge success that left warm memories in the hearts of all guests, students, and teachers.
Before we put up the beautiful pictures from the concert and the wonderful performances of our children, I want to lift the curtains and take you backstage so that we can express our gratitude to all the people who helped us make this event unforgettable. Thank you all for the amazing teamwork, for the true friendships and for the warm community we create together!
Each year, the school’s concerts grow larger and grander and this is a direct result of the school success in attracting bulgarian families from the area as well as the growing involvement of the parent organization. This year’s organization of the concert followed a strict system of division of labor that was developed and proposed by the parent organization. Many people put their soul, heart and skills into the production of the concert and we extend our gratitude to them: to those responsible for assigning roles and creating a signUPGenius, to those who organized and gave out the gifts, to those who organized the hall decoration and the design of a beautiful folkloric panel for the stage, to those who ordered and served the delicious food, to the ones who organized the bountiful raffle filled with donations from local businesses, to the people who directed the craft sale, to the ones who helped with the final clean-up of the hall. Let's not forget to mention the people responsible for the system and sound, the professional photographer, the stage presenters, the charming Santa Claus and the coordinators who poured in enthusiasm, artistry and dedication. You might ask “What are the magic ingredients that contributed to a great success?”. Well, these are years of accumulated experience, organizational skills, passionate commitment, truehearted friendship and happy people!
Snejana Iovtcheva
program coordinator and teacher
snejana@bg-school.org
A holiday is when we are all together, when it is colorful, when we create and when we talk about loved ones. Furthermore, this way learning happens without us even realizing that we are in a lesson.
How to hold the scissors correctly, how much glue should we put on the Snowman's nose, how to artistically arrange the stickers on the card, how big should the middle ball of the snowman be? Should we put a ribbon on top of the Christmas tree or would it be better with a star?
Do you also know how to design and write a greeting card and how to address an envelope? And how long does it take for a letter to travel to Bulgaria?
What if we sell the Christmas cards and collect money that we will send to a Bulgarian foundation?....These are just some of the questions that students ask and answer in the Saturday classes in the Bulgarian school.
The curriculum guides are: practice motor skills and the alphabet in the preschool groups, practice writing and reading in first and second grade, practice social engagement, general culture, …. And everything should be in Bulgarian!
Yes, everything is clearly written in the teacher's guide, but it is somewhat dry and gray. Then here comes the role of teachers and parents. They are the ones who turn the gray curriculum into colorful practice and the dry matter into lively lessons. It is the teachers who fill the school hours with spirit and dynamism, cultivate study habits, teach culture, traditions and belonging.
The Christmas cards are part of the learning activities that we do at the Bulgarian Saturday School every school year. The projects are always different and unique, and the results and emotions are always cheerful and invigorating!
Let us open the doors of each classroom by using some photos. Starting with the three preschool groups of Ms. Darina Tsonevska, who wrote:
"Today at school we worked on Christmas and New Year cards. In the smallest year groups, assistants and parents play a major role for the success of the project. Ella Shishkova, assistant teacher of the youngest students, designed the cards and thoroughly explained to the children the materials that would be used. We also discussed why we make and send cards ahead of the upcoming holiday, and who will receive the cards. We talked about grandparents, uncles and aunts, friends and, of course, good old man Santa Claus. Assistant teachers Dara, Nasi and Vicky had fun as they not only exercised their creativity, but also very purposefully talked to the students and enriched their language skills. The whole process was accompanied by the wonderful Bulgarian Christmas and New Year songs. I am incredibly grateful to the assistant teachers and the parents for creating the cozy atmosphere in our classrooms."
In the Kindergarten room of Mrs. Irene Hristov, the children worked on an original braid in the shape of a Christmas tree. The little craftsmen did an excellent job, and the results are perfect Christmas cards!
In our second Kindergarten room the children worked with Mrs Zornitsa Vodenska and assistant Ivanina. We thank our passionate parent organization for once again organizing and making the card workshop possible for all classes.
The first graders with Mrs. Kristina Georgieva and assistant Deya worked on an array of card designs. Yet, what the children enjoyed the most is inviting their parents to their classrooms and sharing part of their Saturday lesson with them.
The second graders with Mrs. Snejana and assistant Martin made an entire exhibition of Christmas cards. The students not only designed the cards, but also wrote wonderful Christmas and New Year wishes. Grandmothers, grandfathers, beloved friends, cousins, aunts and uncles from Bulgaria will be delighted to receive joyful mail from Boston.
Third grade with Mrs. Svetlana and assistant Vili created their own original designs, and wrote Christmas and New Year's greetings. Writing cards and composing short greetings is a wonderful social skill that is in danger of disappearing if we don't pass it on to children in today's fast-paced electronic world.
The middle school classes also eagerly joined the Christmas cards manufacture. Most of them have been part of the school for a long time. Nevertheless, the annual Christmas workshops are still one of their favorite times of the school year.
The Bulgarian Saturday School is more than a school for the Bulgarian language, it is a gathering center of a cultural community. It is the place where we meet, make friends and rediscover ourselves. This is the world we create for our children. It is a space created by us, who came here with memories and experience from Bulgaria and we invite those who are born here to connect with a language and a culture that is far away. The universal mission of every parent is to create and provide an opportunity for their children's development. And we invite the children to discover their unique cultural opportunity, to believe that they can learn a new language, and one day take over the mission as their own. The children of this generation of migrants are children who identify with several cultures and several languages. When we as parents create this opportunity for them through the Bulgarian school and cultural center, we allow them to grow resilient and to learn to adapt and think creatively and outside the box.
Ivanitsa Nesheva
Member of the Parent Organization
After several years of discontinuity, the Bulgarian school in Cape Cod has restored a wonderful custom - creating our own survaknitzi! The students were excited to learn about this old Bulgarian winter tradition and participated in decorating the survaknitzi.
We all reviewed the symbolic meaning of each part of the survaknitza:
The dogwood branch is a symbol of longevity, health and wisdom.
The white wool symbolizes the feminine beginning and serves to drive away diseases and evil forces.
The red woolen thread serves to protect against diseases and lessons.
Coins are a symbol of health and wealth.
Popcorn and dried fruit symbolize abundance and fertility in the fields and gardens.
The survaknitzi are used on the first day of the year, St. Basil's Day. Tradition dictates that on this day, the taping with a survaknitza on your shoulder will protect from misfortunes and bring health and longevity, as well as luck throughout the year.
Parents, grandparents, teachers and helpers actively participated and helped in this wonderful workshop on Saturday and with great enthusiasm and smiles reminisced memories of their childhood years back in Bulgaria.
Preparing for the workshop was long and intense, and everyone pitched in to provide the necessary materials - twigs, yarn, popcorn, dried fruit, coins, cranberries, and pretzels. Many families were involved in the organization and this brought us closer and united us in the days leading up to Christmas. There was plenty of popcorn, fruit and crackers to snack on, as well as hot coffee for the parents.
With joint efforts, we managed to create twenty survaknitzi that will be sold during our Christmas celebration.
In addition to the survaknitzi, many of the students also worked on Christmas cards, Christmas garlands and we even found time to rehearse for the Christmas concert.
Finally, we treated ourselves to delicious sweets and a cake as we also celebrated the birthday of one of our students. The mood was extremely cheerful, everyone was satisfied and happy and the children enriched their knowledge of this old Bulgarian custom.
Without the participation of parents and the community, this pre-Christmas workshop would not have been possible. We hope to continue with the same enthusiasm in the future! To create and maintain the school and the many friendships of our children that will one day continue the Bulgarian community in Cape Cod.
The Board of Directors of the Bulgarian School "Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii" Boston and Cape Cod have decided to renew the tradition of Christmas campaigns geared towards gathering funds for the needy of groups in Bulgaria. The purpose of these campaigns is to build another bridge to our homeland, give back some of the generous funds we receive from the taxpayers in the country, and set an example of compassion and humanity to our kids. The multi-year tradition was interrupted during the pandemic and we are very happy to bring it back.
This year, the voted recipient of the collected funds was Foundation Karin Dom - Varna. The organization was established in 1994 by the philanthropist Ivan Stanchoff with the mission to provide high-quality services to the families of children with special needs. Each year they work with over 400 kids and families from around the country, so that the children are not left in institutions but can study and live with their peers in a more tolerant community.
You can take part in the campaign by donating to the School with a memo "for Karin Dom" via the website (https://www.bg-school.org/donate ) or by check sent to:
BSS Kiril i Metodii
(Attn: Karin Dom)
310 River St
Billerica, MA 01821
There will be a donation box marked "Дари за Карин Дом" near the entrance of the Billerica branch in the next couple of weeks as well.
Thank you!
Photo credit: www.karindom.org
“Karin Dom” Foundation
Anne Tylor about Karin Dom
Film 20 years Karin Dom
You-tube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/karindomcenter/videos
Web-site: https://karindom.org/
The federal and local funding for Karin Dom accounts for about 24% of their budget; they rely on donations to cover the rest. The programs offered by the organization are:
Support of families with kids from 0 to 3 years old with developmental slow down
Therapeutic services for children from 0 to 8 years old including a physical therapist, occupational therapist, psychologist, speech therapist, special needs instructor, social worker.
Adaptation and integration in pre-school and pre-K.
Education and professional development for teachers and specialists
Workshops for tolerance and organizing volunteer networks to sustain a supportive environment for the children with special needs and their families
Social Entrepreneurship. Creating products and services which provide the funds for opening jobs for the parents of kids with special needs.
Snejana Iovtcheva
Program coordinator, teacher
In the distant year 1922 (exactly 100 years ago!) November 1 was declared a Bulgarian official holiday, on which Bulgarians pay tribute to the work of educators, writers and revolutionaries. These are the ardent supporters of our history, who contributed to the awakening and spiritual enlightenment of the Bulgarian people, to the rise of national awareness and the struggle for political independence and culture. This period of Bulgarian history is known as the national Revival, a period of formation, of awakening. The names of these historical enlighteners adorn facades, schools, streets, stadiums, libraries and community centers in Bulgaria to remind of their work.
The Bulgarian school "St. st. Cyril and Methodius" in Boston and Cape Cod acknowledged the national enlighteners with a huge variety of events and performances.
The kindergarten groups with Mrs. Darina Tsonevska listened to the song "Day of the national enlighteners" by Angelina Zhekova, worked on Bulgarian flags and participated as an audience at a school performance.
The second grade students with Mrs. Snejana Iovtcheva presented a play on the stage in the school building, in which each child was transformed into a national hero. This way, the public was presented with 15 historical heroes who stood proudly and told about their work.
The purpose of this performance was for the children to recreate the period of the Bulgarian Revival and by transforming themselves into historical figures, to experience the universal meaning of the words "courage", "devotion", "sacrifice" and "donation".
The kindergarten students with Mrs. Irene Hristov, dressed in the colors of the tricolor flag, sang the song "Where is Bulgaria" based on the lyrics of Ivan Vazov.
The third-grader Mimi Mashova bravely presented the poem "Motherland" by Mladen Isaev. She learned the poem all by herself from the textbook and to the great joy of all her current and previous teachers expressed a desire to perform on stage and greet the students and guests.
The students from our middle and high school classes prepared a wide variety of thematic presentations and informative posters. They also decorated the corridors in the school building and thus attracted the attention of the students and visitors who stopped to look at the photos and comment.
The students from the virtual classes also got involved with thematic projects. They have prepared presentations and posters, which they presented during their online class sessions.
At our Cape Cod branch, the youngest students listened to the song "Song for national enlighteners" written by Marina Karamanska. The students from the class of Mrs. Zdravka Nikolova and Mr. Pavel Naydenov included in their school lessons the study of several heroes from the period of the Bulgarian Revival. One specific цхарацтеристиц of this class is that the students are between the ages of 6 and 12 and are taught using the mutual learning method. This allows them, similar to the revival schools of the past, to catch up with the material and gain literacy in reading and writing in Bulgarian. In addition, the older students in this group develop their leadership skills.
Following the school lessons on Saturday, a group of students participated in the Bulgarian Folk Festival in the city of Boston. This is a festival organized for a second year in a row by the family of Petar and Albena Dimitrovi. It serves as a celebration and presentation of the Bulgarian folklore traditions.
The students Mila and Martin Andreev, Karina and Vincent Anastasia and Isabella Chakarova greeted the huge audience of over 300 people with the humorous Pirin song "Sednalo e Jore Dos".
The young Max Hatcher bravely amused the guests with а funny tale about "Hitar Petar" or “Clever Petar”, who is a well known Bulgarian folk character.
The third grade student Katya Hatcher transformed into Raina Knyaginya and with a strong and confident voice sang "Koi ushi bairyaka", a national song based on the lyrics of Dobri Chintulov.
Today, we commemorate the work of the famous historical figures, but at the same time we also turn to the modern revivalists. The ardent supporters who defend and spread the Bulgarian language, who enrich the Bulgarian culture, and who create a community outside the borders of Bulgaria. These are the people we meet every Saturday at our school in Boston and Cape Cod. Thanks to these modern revivalists, our community has not only a Bulgarian school, but also a center that regularly organizes theaters and concerts from Bulgaria. We have a church that celebrates the Orthodox holidays. We also have dance groups for young and adult dancers, folk festivals, social groups and gatherings.
It is also appropriate to mention all the awake parents who speak Bulgarian at home, celebrate traditional holidays, support the mission of the school by creating social causes, and set examples for their children.
This is a piece of Bulgaria in New England. Here the spirit and traditions of the Revival are alive and effective.
