The National Day of Bulgaria is on the 3 March. This is also known as Liberation Day, when they got autonomy within Ottoman Empire in 1878 (National Day of Turkey). This day celebrates Bulgaria’s liberation from Ottoman rule on March 3, 1878, following the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878. (National Day of Russia)
National Day of Bulgaria
The Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878 was a conflict between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire over control of the Balkans. Bulgaria was one of the major battlegrounds of the war.
The conflict began in 1877 when Russia declared war on the Ottoman Empire, citing the mistreatment of Orthodox Christians in the Balkans as the reason for the conflict. Bulgaria was a region of particular importance, as it had a large Orthodox Christian population and was a key strategic location for both sides.
The war began with a Russian invasion of the Balkans, which led to a series of battles in Bulgaria. The Russians were able to capture key Ottoman strongholds, including the cities of Plovdiv and Sofia, and eventually pushed the Ottomans back to their capital, Constantinople (now Istanbul).
During the conflict, Bulgaria declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire and established a provisional government. This government was recognized by Russia and other European powers, leading to the creation of the Principality of Bulgaria in 1878.
The war ended with the Treaty of San Stefano, which granted Bulgaria significant territorial gains and established it as an autonomous state within the Ottoman Empire. However, the treaty was revised at the Congress of Berlin later that year, and Bulgaria’s borders were reduced in size.
See also the Austria National Day as well as the National Day of Finland and the National Day of Germany.
Public Holidays in Bulgaria
Here are the public holidays in Bulgaria:
- New Year’s Day – January 1st
- Liberation Day – March 3rd
- Easter Sunday and Monday – April (dates vary each year)
- International Workers’ Day – May 1st
- Saint George’s Day – May 6th
- Bulgarian Education and Culture, and Slavonic Literature Day – May 24th
- Unification Day – September 6th
- Independence Day – September 22nd
- National Awakening Day – November 1st
- Christmas Day – December 25th
- Second Day of Christmas – December 26th
Note that if a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday is usually observed as a public holiday.
