site.btaDecember 8: Day of Bulgarian University Students

 December 8 is the Day of Bulgarian University Students. It started as the Day of Sofia University in 1903, first marked in a chitalishte (community centre) in downtown Sofia.

Back in 1897, Education Minister Ivan Shishmanov said Bulgaria's first higher school (the St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia from January 4, 1905) should have its own holiday. Meeting on November 2, 1902, its Academic Council designated the feast day of St Kliment Ohridski, November 25 (new style December 8), as its holiday. In 1905, the Rules of Sofia University set November 25 as its holiday.

After the Gregorian calendar was adopted in Bulgaria in 1916, the celebrations moved to December 8. Between 1944 and 1962, Bulgarian university students celebrated on International Students' Day, November 17.

Since 1968, when the Bulgarian Orthodox Church reverted to the Julian calendar, Sofia University has marked the feast day of St Kliment Ohridski, November 25, as its official holiday, while December 8 has been a secular holiday celebrated by students across the country.