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The event significantly exceeded our expectations and, despite the unpredictable weather, attracted over 600 attendees. The program included more than 25 traditional Bulgarian dances and choreographies performed by 14 folklore groups. Among them were three local Bulgarian folk dance groups, nine visiting groups, and two children's groups, one of which was from the Bulgarian Sunday School "Vasil Levski" in Cambridge, where over 120 bilingual children study Bulgarian language, literature, history, and geography.
In addition to the dance performances, five folk singing performances left us breathless. These included young Bulgarian singers Mia Drageva from BNU "St. Ivan Rilski" in Cambridge and Anna Simeonova (London), as well as the male folk singing group "Bulgarian Legacy".
Special guests also attended the event, including the wife of the Bulgarian ambassador in London, Mrs. Lyubka Stoycheva; the newly elected Mayor of Cambridge, Mr. Baiju Thitala; three-time Mayor of Cambridge and Grand Master of the Order of St. George the Martyr, Mr. Robert Dryden; Mr. Richard Brown, Grand Prior; and Mr. Piero D'Angelico from Mill Road Traders, a supporter of the "Little Bulgaria" Initiative.
The Mayor opened the event with an inspiring speech about Bulgaria's 13-century-long history, traditions, and culture, passed down through generations. He emphasized the importance of cultural exchange and sharing traditions and celebrations among the diverse communities in Cambridge - a key mission of our organization - and the commitment of Cambridge's local government to supporting its rich cultural diversity.
The event also featured a competition for traditional Bulgarian costumes. Mrs. Stoycheva, the mayor, and Mr. Dryden were part of the jury and had the challenging task of selecting the most beautiful and authentic costumes.
We held a tug-of-war game for men and women, offering unique prizes.
A 40-meter-long Bulgarian flag was proudly displayed as we danced to the sounds of Bulgarian bagpipes, with the mayor and special guests leading the procession.
The bazaar showcased the work of two Bulgarian artists and featured products and services from eight Bulgarian businesses. The Mayor showed great interest in the bazaar and visited every exhibitor.
Our catering partners provided traditional Bulgarian food, enhancing the festive atmosphere.
We had discussions with the special guests about the mission of the "Little Bulgaria" Initiative in Cambridgeshire and our long-term goal of establishing a Bulgarian cultural center in Cambridge. This center would serve as a vibrant hub for Bulgarian education, literature, culture, arts, and traditions, helping strengthen community bonds, celebrate our rich heritage, and invite people from other cultures to experience the beauty of Bulgaria. We also discussed our proposal to the former mayor to organize an international intercultural festival in Cambridge in honor of St. George, the patron saint of England, and the national saint of Bulgaria, Portugal, Brazil, Germany, Greece, Catalonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Russia, and other countries. The mayor invited us to a meeting at the Cambridge Guildhall to discuss the needs of the Bulgarian community in Cambridgeshire and the charitable initiatives of the "Little Bulgaria" Initiative. We plan to hold the meeting in September, right after the summer holidays.
The event was covered by Cambridge Independent, the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), and the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad.
Videos from the event are available on social media - Facebook and YouTube.
More photo albums from the event can be found on our Facebook page:
- A Bit of Everything - Facebook Album
- Performances and Certificates - Facebook Album
- Costume Contest and Awards - Facebook Album
- Tug-of-War Competition - Facebook Album
- Dancing with the Audience - Facebook Album
- People at the Event - Facebook Album
Photo credits: Sofia Stoyanova, Daniel Petkov, Petya Nikiforova.
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On March 3, 2024, we had the honor and pleasure of organizing a special March celebration dedicated to Bulgaria’s Liberation Day and the holiday of Baba Marta. This lively event brought together people of all ages in Cambridge, united by the spirit of Bulgarian culture and traditions.
Our event, "Spring is Coming!" brought with it the feeling of spring, warmth, and tradition as we celebrated two beloved Bulgarian customs – Bulgaria’s Liberation and the Martenitsa, a symbol of health, luck, and new beginnings. Attendees had the chance to exchange Martenitsi and enjoy shared delicious Bulgarian dishes, prepared with care and warmth. Traditional folk music and dancing enhanced the festive atmosphere, with everyone joining in the cheerful rhythm of horo dances and songs.
The celebration also featured a competition for the best Martenitsa, adding an extra dose of joy and excitement among the guests. The winner of the "Most Beautiful Martenitsa" award was Milenka Mileva, with Haverhill once again taking home the prize!
Desislava and Stanislava Bardarski impressed everyone with their stunning full-sized costumes of Pizho and Penda. Dressed in the traditional red and white colors, they symbolized the spirit of the Martenitsa in a unique and memorable way. With their imagination and creativity, Desislava and Stanislava added an incredible atmosphere to the celebration, bringing the authentic spirit of Baba Marta that made everyone feel even more connected to Bulgarian tradition. We thank them and all participants for their wonderful ideas and inspiration!
In addition to the festivities, the event also included a charity campaign, organized by the Bulgarian Orthodox Community - Cambridge, UK, which raised £159 in support of establishing a Bulgarian Orthodox mission in Cambridge.
"Spring is Coming!" was a beautiful day filled with joy and celebration, where each of us had the chance to feel the spirit of Bulgaria, even far from home. Together, we welcomed spring and honored the symbols of health, luck, and freedom. We thank everyone who joined us and made this celebration even more special!
We look forward to the upcoming events we will organize with you to continue preserving and sharing Bulgarian traditions in the heart of Cambridge.
More photos and videos can be found in the album on our Facebook page.
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On December 9, 2023, we had the pleasure of organizing a special pre-Christmas event under the theme “Christmas is Coming!”, a wonderful way to bid farewell to 2023. The gathering was hosted by “Bulgarian Folk Dances Cambridge” and brought together four folklore ensembles from Cambridge and Bury – Folk Fitness “Balkan Dance” from Cambridge, Folk Fitness “Priyateli” (Friends) from Bury, the children’s folklore group “Hortse” from the Bulgarian Sunday School “Vasil Levski,” and the Bulgarian Orthodox Community in Cambridge.
The event began with an inspiring opening by our special guest, Father Dobromir, who shared a short history of the Koledari tradition and the celebration of Christmas in Bulgarian culture and Orthodox Christianity. Koledari carolers filled the hall with authentic Bulgarian Christmas songs and a blessing for prosperity, bringing warmth and comfort to all attendees. The children’s group “Hortse” made their debut on stage and charmed the audience with their very first performance.
The folklore ensembles from Cambridge and Bury, along with our friends Yoshi, Julian, and Spiros – true admirers of Bulgarian culture – taught everyone their favorite Bulgarian horo dances, creating a joyful and shared atmosphere.
The event was enriched by Bulgarian author Clary Kostova-Balcer, who introduced her new humorous book "Excuse Me! I’m English!" The poet from Cambridge, Hristina Tokusheva, told us about the connection between Asparukh’s singing horses and Bulgarian horo dances, and then recited her poem “Horo Se Vie Prevaiva...” (The Horo Winds and Bends), written especially for our first gathering earlier this year.
The talented Ivelina Popova showcased her handmade bracelets, which became a hit among attendees, while the youngest participants colored Christmas cards with Bulgarian motifs and received holiday treats from Santa Claus.
One of the most exciting moments was the contest for the best Christmas stuffed cabbage rolls (sarmi), which put the taste buds of the audience jury to the test, as they had to judge while blindfolded. The winners, Petya Choleva and Filip Balabanov, promised to share their recipes with us so that we can all enjoy their culinary creations.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined this wonderful pre-Christmas gathering and filled the hall with Bulgarian songs, rhythms, colorful folk costumes, kukeri, drums, and a huge dose of positive energy! The five hours of the gathering flew by in dance, smiles, and hearts beating as one. We are delighted that together we created these treasured moments and shared the spirit of Christmas and Bulgarian traditions.
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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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.