BULGARIAN EMBROIDERY
Despite being a part of the Turkish Empire for more than 500 years, Bulgaria managed to keep much of its cultural heritage intact. Embroidery in particular, with its unique decorative compositions, allowed Bulgarians living in the areas within the then Turkish province to retain their national identity.
Originally, Bulgarian embroidery proclaimed the social status and ethnic origin of a person. “Tree of life,” “Young sun,” and “Circle of life” are just some of the motifs associated with the craft. Undoubtedly, sun motifs were the most important symbols. Ancient Thracians, who are generally accepted to be the ancestors of present-day Bulgarians, worshiped the cult of the sun. Contemporary Bulgarian life is still rife with motifs that represent the sun. One such symbol is a double cross known as an “Elbetitsa.”
In Mediaeval times it represented the four cardinal directions of the material world and the four intermediate directions of the immaterial world, coming together at the center. In short, it was the personification of Bulgarian power. The double cross symbol is also prevalent in Buddhism, where it represents the wheel of life and the path to Enlightenment. Today “Elbetitsa” represents the Bulgarian awakening, a passionate devotion to keep the ancient traditions alive, whether they are used in embroidery, woodcarving, or other crafts.
This symbol was the inspiration for our logo:
We are traditionalists who are passionate about our folklore, culture, food, history, and nature. In order to provide our guests with an unparalleled experience, we explored every nook and cranny of our country. We met the winegrowers, farmers, and the elderly people who shared their stories with us. We simply fell in love with everything what Bulgaria has to offer and can hardly wait to show it to you.
Looking for more ideas:
IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A PRIVATE TOUR AND WANT TO DISCOVER MORE THAN THE TOURIST SIGHTS, THAN YOUR GUIDES ARE WAITING FOR YOU…
Did we get your attention? Let’s start our journey through Bulgaria together and discover it all!