The family, an important foundation
The family occupies a more important place in Bulgarian society than in Western Europe. It is traditionally quite large and several generations of the same family commonly live under the same roof, often for economic reasons, but also for patrimonial reasons. It is not uncommon in traditional Bulgarian society for land belonging to the same family to be used for working and living together. Grandchildren are regularly looked after by the grandparents while the parents work. The godfather and the godmother also occupy an important place. As in France, they are designated by the parents at the time of the baptism and their role is to watch over the child and to advise him/her.
In the past, Bulgarians married in their twenties and arranged marriages were common until the 1960s, especially in the villages. Nowadays young couples are more and more independent and cohabitation is no longer an exception.
Today, even if the strength of family ties tends to diminish, respect for the elderly, solidarity and family spirit persist. Especially since the events of any family (births, baptisms, weddings, deaths...) are significant moments that are shared in community. When a newborn is born, the young mother is not visited before the fortieth day so as not to give her the evil eye. Then she invites her friends and female family members to share a round loaf of bread for the health of the newborn. The bread is not cut but broken and a piece is put up on a cupboard, for example, for the baby to grow. Honey is always present on the table to make life sweet for the baby.
Another funny custom is the prochtapoulnik. As soon as the baby takes its first steps, friends are invited to see what the child's future job will be. On a coffee table, different objects are placed: pen, hammer, chisel, book, screwdriver, money... and the little one, who is still walking unsteadily, is allowed to choose an object. We imagine that this choice will be related to his future profession.
The wedding naturally represents a great moment. It is celebrated in a different way according to the regions. One pretends to raise the price for the young bride or to kidnap her. The men bury their bachelorhood the day before, the young women spend the evening with their friends. The wedding feasts can sometimes last several days. In the cities, the ceremonies are simplified. There is a growing tendency to get married in a church where the beauty of the rite still impresses. Witnesses hold elaborate crowns over the heads of the newlyweds.
As for funerals, they follow a very precise ritual. The coffin is not closed, the ceremony takes place in the church or not. After the burial, the family and friends gather for a meal where sweet boiled wheat, symbol of rebirth, honey and wine are served. You may see people in churches who will offer you a small paper plate with wheat, or just a cake or a chocolate for the repose of the soul of the deceased. Accept it, it is a tradition(panihida). These rituals are performed on the fortieth day (it is estimated among the Orthodox that the soul of the dead remains on earth for forty days), on the third and ninth month and every year after the death.
Increasing the birth rate and fighting against the shortage
The birth rate in Bulgaria is low, averaging 1.56 children per woman. In addition, the country is suffering from progressive depopulation. More than two million young working Bulgarians have left the country in search of better living conditions while the country was in crisis. Bulgaria is therefore suffering from this problem and is trying to bring back young people with promises of social aid or economic benefits.
Since 1956, during the Soviet era, voluntary interruption of pregnancy (abortion) has been permitted up to the twelfth week of pregnancy and free of charge for those under 16 and over 35. However, because of the birth rate crisis, there is pressure from the church and the government to encourage women not to have abortions.
While the Bulgarian health care system is quite good, especially since the European Union has provided assistance to improve the medical infrastructure, the country is facing a shortage of health care professionals. This affects both Sofia, the capital, and the provinces. Many young graduates are leaving Bulgaria for the more attractive salaries abroad. Demands are increasing to improve the situation.
An education of good standing
The Bulgarian education system offers good services, the level of education is high and the population attaches great importance to education and its quality. The country's literacy rate is excellent, about 98%, demonstrating the high standards of Bulgarian education. Schooling is compulsory from age 5 to 16 and free of charge. When they are young, children usually stay at home with their mothers for the first year of their lives, as maternity leave is usually one year. When they go to school, and with more and more women working full time, it is common for grandparents to take care of the children for part of the day as school is either in the morning or afternoon. So don't worry if you see children on the streets during school hours when you think they should be in class.
As in most European countries, the Bulgarian education system is a single-core system. Pre-school education is for children between the ages of 3 and 6 (although nurseries are still very common, even in big cities like Sofia). Then come primary, secondary and higher education. Each cycle is validated by an evaluation. All grades are between 1 (poor) and 6 (excellent). Before higher education, Bulgarians take the matura, the equivalent of our high school diploma. on average, 80% of them pass.
The country has 51 universities, three of which are among the top 200 in Europe: Trakya University, Sofia Klimet Ohridsi University and the American University in Bulgaria, located in Blagoevgrad. The latter has about 1,000 students from many countries around the world, and offers a very good and eclectic education. From the age of 13, young people can start vocational training.
Bulgarians prefer to send their children to public rather than private schools. This is because private schooling is expensive (between 1,500 and 21,000 € per year), but also because private schooling is associated with religious education.
Homosexuality is still difficult to accept
Homosexuality is legal in Bulgaria, but homosexual couples do not have the same rights and protection as heterosexual couples and homosexuality remains quite taboo and frowned upon in this country. The Gay Pride takes place every year in June in Sofia in a tense atmosphere. Although the event aims to promote diversity and tolerance, many extremist groups do not see it as a good thing. The children of a same-sex couple are not recognized.
The place of women
Bulgarian legislation is gender-equal. It is not uncommon for a woman to hold an important position in the public sector - Bulgaria has had a female interim prime minister in the past and seven female ministers in the current government. But in reality, machismo and paternalism are still present in society and wage discrimination is common in the private sector. In most Bulgarian families, however, the woman plays the central role! She is the one who does the housework, takes care of the children and the elderly, even if she works outside the home. Half of the women have a job outside the home, in addition to their domestic work.
Until 1989, under the communist regime, women had very little opportunity to dress as they wished. With the generalization of women's access to work and their emancipation, displaying one's femininity is now considered a sign of freedom and independence. Women have been the most affected by the post-socialist transformations and their status has changed considerably.
Finally, as elsewhere, the problem of violence against women arises in Bulgaria. The country has signed all the international treaties concerning the protection of women's rights, freedoms and equality, and in March 2005, Bulgaria adopted legislation on domestic violence.
