Botev Day in Bulgaria (02/06)

For every Bulgarian, Botev Day — is the day of all those who fell for the national and social liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman enslavers — is a particularly revered date.

Legendary poet, revolutionary and patriot of his country Hristo Botev (Bulgarian). Hristo Botev, January 6, 1849 – June 1, 1876) — national hero of Bulgaria. His poems are familiar to every Bulgarian.

In his work, he was guided by the poems of Russian revolutionary democrats, and was also inspired by the Paris Commune. Of the poet's poetic heritage, about twenty poems have survived, most of them became folk songs and were transmitted orally and in numerous lists.

In May 1876, Hristo Botev, at the head of a small detachment of rebels, arrived along the Danube on the ship «Radetsky» (in the Kozloduy area) to help the rebels in Bulgaria. By that time, however, the April Uprising of the Bulgarians for national liberation had already been brutally suppressed by the Turks.

Not meeting the necessary support, Botev’s detachment undertook a campaign to Mount Stara Planina, where it was defeated by the Turkish army near the top of Okolcica. Botev himself fell to the death of the heroes; his grave has not been found to this day.

In 1885, June 2 was declared a holiday in the country. But officially the Day of Botev and those killed for the freedom of Bulgaria has been celebrated since 1901. In 1938, a 35-meter monument was erected on Okolchitsa Peak, which perpetuates the heroism of Botev and his detachment.

On the eve of June 2, a solemn dawn is held on the square in front of the People's Assembly in Sofia, and on June 2, at exactly 12.00, the howl of sirens and beeps throughout the country interrupts the movement and work of people for 3 minutes in memory of the national hero and those who fell for the independence of Bulgaria.

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