site.btaObservances: September 6-8

September 6

Bulgaria:

- Unification Day. Public holiday.

The world:

- National Day of Swaziland: Independence Day (1968).

On this date in Bulgarian history:

1879: Diplomatic relations established with Serbia.

1883: Suspended Tarnovo Constitution is reinstated.

1885: Union of Principality of Bulgaria with Eastern Rumelia is proclaimed.

1916: Third Army under General Stefan Toshev's command captures Tutrakan Fortress during World War I in one of Bulgaria's greatest victories.

1974: New building of Sofia's Central Railway Station is inaugurated.

September 7

The world:

- National Day of Brazil: Independence Day (1822).

On this date in Bulgarian history:

1883: Dragan Tsankov forms eighth Bulgarian government (in office until December 31, 1883).

1940: Treaty of Craiova is signed. Southern Dobrudzha, awarded to Romania under 1919 Treaty of Neuilly, is reincorporated into Bulgaria.

1978: Dissident writer and journalist Georgi Markov falls victim to notorious "Bulgarian umbrella killing" on London's Waterloo Bridge.

2002: Salt Museum, only one of its kind in Balkans, is inaugurated in Pomorie, on the Black Sea.

September 8

The world:

- National Day of Andorra: Our Lady of Meritxell Day (1278).

On this date in Bulgarian history:

1885: Prince Alexander I of Battenberg signs manifesto declaring his acceptance of unification of Principality of Bulgaria with Eastern Rumelia.

1944: Bulgaria declares war on Germany as Soviet troops enter country during World War II.

1946: In referendum on abolition of monarchy, 92.72% vote in favour of people's republic, 4.37% vote in favour of monarchy.

1964: Song "Mila Rodino" (Dear Motherland) is approved as Bulgaria's national anthem by National Assembly Presidium Decree No. 534 (gazetted on same day). Written by Tsvetan Radoslavov (1885). Tune revised by Dobri Hristov (1905), Philip Koutev and Alexander Raichev (1964). Lyrics revised by Dimiter Metodiev and Georgi Djagarov (1964). Current version (first stanza and chorus) codified by new Constitution (Article 168), effective July 13, 1991.

1991: Kozloduy N-Plant's 1,000 MW B-320 Unit 6 is commissioned.