site.btaNational Folklore Festival Opens in Koprivshtitsa, UNESCO Director General Bokova Addresses Participants

National Folklore Festival Opens in Koprivshtitsa, UNESCO Director General Bokova Addresses Participants

Koprivshtitsa, Central Bulgaria, August 7 (BTA) - The National
Folklore Festival opened in the mountain town of Koprivshtitsa
on Friday. The three-day event will highlight the diversity and
richness of Bulgaria's intangible cultural heritage.

More than 12,000 performers are expected to take part in the
Festival, among them singers, instrumentalists, dancers, folk
tale narrators, and presenters of national customs. Visitors
will also be able to see demonstrations of traditional Bulgarian
 crafts.
   
Among the guests at the official opening was UNESCO Director
General Irina Bokova. She is patron of this year's edition of
the festival.

Addressing the event, Bokova said that only peoples that know
their history and respect their culture and heritage, are
successful. "There is no greater magic than the magic of
folklore, of these incredible voices and melodies, of what the
hands of Bulgarian people have created during the past decades,"
 she said. 

Bokova argued that folklore should not only be protected: it
should be passed on from generation to generation.  

The UNESCO Director General underscored the contribution of
Bulgarian folklore to European and world culture.

"I am happy to see here my friends the Bistritsa Babi
[traditional singing ensemble] who are on the UNESCO list of
intangible cultural heritage. The Chiprovtsi carpets are also on
 the list, as well as the nestinari fire dancers - and I hope
that the kouker [mummers] will soon join them because we have
quite a lot to give to the world," said Bokova.

Among the officials are the opening were also Tourism Minister
Nikolina Angelkova, Koprivshtitsa Mayor Gencho Gerdanov, MPs and
 diplomats.

This year is the 50th anniversary of the festival which has
become a major annual event celebrating the Bulgarian national
spirit and culture, bridging the past, present and future. СН/

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Koprivshtitsa, Central Bulgaria, August 7 (BTA) - The National
Folklore Festival opened in the mountain town of Koprivshtitsa
on Friday. The three-day event will highlight the diversity and
richness of Bulgaria's intangible cultural heritage.

More than 12,000 performers are expected to take part in the
Festival, among them singers, instrumentalists, dancers, folk
tale narrators, and presenters of national customs. Visitors
will also be able to see demonstrations of traditional Bulgarian
 crafts.
   
Among the guests at the official opening was UNESCO Director
General Irina Bokova. She is patron of this year's edition of
the festival.

Addressing the event, Bokova said that only peoples that know
their history and respect their culture and heritage, are
successful. "There is no greater magic than the magic of
folklore, of these incredible voices and melodies, of what the
hands of Bulgarian people have created during the past decades,"
 she said. 

Bokova argued that folklore should not only be protected: it
should be passed on from generation to generation.  

The UNESCO Director General underscored the contribution of
Bulgarian folklore to European and world culture.

"I am happy to see here my friends the Bistritsa Babi
[traditional singing ensemble] who are on the UNESCO list of
intangible cultural heritage. The Chiprovtsi carpets are also on
 the list, as well as the nestinari fire dancers - and I hope
that the kouker [mummers] will soon join them because we have
quite a lot to give to the world," said Bokova.

Among the officials are the opening were also Tourism Minister
Nikolina Angelkova, Koprivshtitsa Mayor Gencho Gerdanov, MPs and
 diplomats.

This year is the 50th anniversary of the festival which has
become a major annual event celebrating the Bulgarian national
spirit and culture, bridging the past, present and future.