On July 9, 2023, we had the pleasure of organizing the first Bulgarian gathering in Cambridge under the theme "We've Got Together!" This event, organized by the Little Bulgaria Initiative – Cambridge, in collaboration with "Bulgarian Folk Dances in Cambridge," "Balkan Dance for Fitness," the Bulgarian Sunday School "Vasil Levski," and the Orthodox mission "St. John the Baptist," brought together hundreds of Bulgarians and friends of Bulgaria, united by a shared love for traditions and Bulgarian culture.
The day was filled with emotions, music, and dancing! We created the longest horo dance Cambridge has ever seen, led by both young and old, hand-in-hand in the spirit of the Bulgarian community. For the event, we arranged a large communal table with four long tables, where everyone brought delicious homemade dishes and drinks to share.
A highlight of the gathering was the competition for the best Bulgarian folk costume and accessories with traditional motifs. Amid cheers and applause, we chose the winners in categories for the best female, male, and children’s costumes, as well as the best traditional accessory.
And for an extra surprise, we witnessed a romantic marriage proposal in front of over 160 people – a truly touching moment that will forever remain in our memories.
Another special moment was celebrating the birthday of Teddy, one of the event’s main organizers, whom we all applauded and honored with enthusiasm.
In addition to Bulgarians, friends of Bulgaria from England, Greece, Azerbaijan, Japan, and New Zealand joined the gathering and shared their admiration and love for Bulgarian traditions, music, and dance. Our friends from Norwich traveled especially for the event, bringing fresh Bulgarian fruits and vegetables, while our friends from Turkey offered traditional Bulgarian kebapche, produced by a Bulgarian company in Peterborough.
This event was only the beginning, and we, the organizers, are filled with excitement and joy from meeting all of you – keepers of Bulgarian traditions and culture who traveled from near and far to share this special day with us. We are already asking ourselves how we will exceed your expectations for the next gathering.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us and made the first Bulgarian gathering in Cambridge an unforgettable experience. Thank you to all who traveled to be with us, and to those who supported Cambridge’s first Orthodox mission, "St. John the Baptist," with your signatures and donations.
In the coming days, we will be sharing selected photos and videos (from nearly 2,000!) so we can relive together the most exciting moments of the gathering. If you would like to receive your photos in original quality, please message us. Don’t forget to tag the Little Bulgaria Initiative page and our partners in your photos and videos to help spread the word about the gathering and our upcoming events.
We wish you a wonderful summer, and we can’t wait to see you again in September!
You can find more photos and videos from the event on our Facebook page.