COUNTRY PROFILE: BULGARIA

June 2005

COUNTRY

Formal Name: Republic of Bulgaria (Republika Bŭlgariya).

Short Form: Bulgaria.

Term for Citizens(s): Bulgarian(s).

Capital: Sofia.

Other Major Cities (in order of population): Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, Ruse, Stara Zagora, Pleven, and Sliven.

Independence: Bulgaria recognizes its independence day as September 22, 1908, when the Kingdom of Bulgaria declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire.

Public Holidays: Bulgaria celebrates the following national holidays: New Year’s (January 1); National Day (March 3); Orthodox Easter (variable date in April or early May); Labor Day (May 1); Army Day (May 6); Education Day (May 24); Unification Day (September 6); Independence Day (September 22); Leaders of the Bulgarian Revival Day (November 1); and Christmas (December 25–26).

Flag: The flag of Bulgaria has three equal horizontal stripes, which are white

(top), green, and red.