Bulgaria Liberation Day
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- 1878Treaty of San Stefano — Russia defeats Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria liberated
- 1879First Bulgarian constitution adopted — the Tarnovo Constitution
- 1908Bulgaria declares full independence from the Ottoman Empire
Why Bulgaria celebrates 3 March
On 3 March 1878, the Treaty of San Stefano was signed between Russia and the Ottoman Empire, ending the Russo-Turkish War and establishing the Principality of Bulgaria as an autonomous state. The date marks Bulgaria's liberation from nearly 500 years of Ottoman rule and is the country's most important national holiday.
Bulgaria had been under Ottoman domination since 1396, when the Second Bulgarian Empire fell. Resistance movements persisted through the centuries, culminating in the April Uprising of 1876 — brutally suppressed, but which drew international attention and ultimately led Russia to declare war on the Ottoman Empire in April 1877.
Liberation Day is marked with a solemn ceremony at the Shipka Pass — where one of the decisive battles of the Liberation War was fought — and with celebrations across the country. The day combines pride in the Russian military assistance that made liberation possible with Bulgarian national identity and cultural heritage.
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The Bulgarian flag has three equal horizontal bands of white, green and red. White symbolises peace and the Danube River, green represents agriculture and the forests of Bulgaria, and red stands for the courage and the blood of those who fought for liberation. The flag was first adopted in 1878 after liberation from Ottoman rule.
Bulgarian cuisine is rich in fresh vegetables, dairy products, slow-cooked meats and herbs from the Balkan mountains. Liberation Day celebrations often mean gathering around a table of traditional dishes.
What to eat
BanitsaFlaky pastry filled with white brine cheese and egg — eaten for breakfast and at every celebration.
Shopska saladFresh tomatoes, cucumber, roasted peppers and white cheese — Bulgaria's best-known salad, in the national colours.
KavarmaSlow-cooked pork or chicken with onion and peppers in a clay pot — a traditional Bulgarian stew.
KebapcheGrilled minced pork rolls seasoned with cumin and black pepper — popular at outdoor gatherings.
TaratorCold cucumber and yogurt soup with garlic and dill — refreshing and quintessentially Bulgarian.
KozunakSweet braided bread enriched with eggs and raisins — baked for national celebrations and Easter.What to drink
RakiaBulgarian grape or plum brandy — the most widely consumed spirit, home-distilled across the country.
AyranCold salted yogurt drink — consumed with meals and popular throughout the warmer months.
BozaFermented wheat drink — thick, slightly sweet and mildly fizzy, sold at kiosks in Sofia.Bulgaria culture
Bulgarian culture carries a deep Orthodox Christian tradition alongside a rich folk heritage of music, dance, embroidery and rose cultivation. Liberation Day is a moment of national reflection tied to the Shipka Pass battle site.
Shipka Pass ceremonyBulgaria's most important national ceremony — held at the Shipka Memorial church on the mountain pass where liberation battles were fought.
Nestinarstvo fire dancingAncient folk ritual where barefoot dancers walk on hot embers — performed at festivals in the Strandzha mountains.
Rose FestivalBulgaria produces 70% of the world's rose oil — the Rose Festival in Kazanlak each June celebrates the harvest.
Gaida bagpipe musicThe Bulgarian bagpipe is central to folk music — its complex melodies are performed at all national events.