Holiday of the Bulgarian Navy (14/08)

The Navy holiday in Bulgaria is celebrated annually on the second Sunday of August.

The reason was an event that occurred (July 31) on August 12, 1879, when on four Russian military vessels moored in the port of Ruse — « Experience», «Explosion», «Pordim» and «Mountain Studen» — the Bulgarian flag was raised, and the orchestra played the then national anthem — military march «Fool Maritsa». A little earlier, the Russian Empire transferred the headquarters and watercraft of the Russian Danube flotilla to Bulgaria, and the engineering department transferred three more boats to the Bulgarian side. This is how the Danube Military Flotilla was created, and this solemn act marked the birth of the Bulgarian navy.

In 1987, a naval unit and a naval arsenal were established in Varna, which two years later were merged with the Danube Flotilla into the Navy with headquarters in Varna. And in 1991, the Navy of the People's Republic of Bulgaria was transformed into the Bulgarian Navy.

Today the Bulgarian Navy (Bulgarian). The naval forces were on Bulgaria) — is one of the branches of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria.

Usually the second Sunday of August — is only the culmination of the holiday. Essentially, the entire week preceding the holiday is filled with events in one way or another related to the sea and navy. Therefore, in Bulgaria people have long called this week «Seafest».

Military court reviews are held, army bands give concerts, amateur art shows are timed to coincide with this time, and exhibitions are held. Sea holidays are celebrated both in Varna, Burgas and other Black Sea cities, and in the Danube cities of — Ruse, Vidin and Silistra. In 2006, the 127th anniversary of the creation of the Bulgarian Navy coincided with the 150th anniversary of the restoration of the lighthouse near the city of Shabla, so celebrations were also held there.

Traditionally, festive events begin in the city of Ruse with the laying of wreaths at the grave of a sailor, and end in the city of Varna, where a military ritual of solemnly raising banners on Navy ships on the territory of the Seaport is held. At the same time, graduates of the Naval School received their first officer rank. As part of the celebrations, a ritual of the military oath of the young conscription is held.

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