Burgas Celebrates St Nicholas Day as Official City Holiday

Filip Pavlov, BTA correspondent Maya Stefanova

Festivities during St Nicholas Day, the official holiday of Burgas (BTA Photo/Hristo Stefanov)

Burgas, on the Black Sea,

06.12.2024 14:44

(BTA)

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LOCAL FOCUS

St Nicholas Day, the official holiday of the seaside city Burgas, was celebrated with various events not only in downtown Burgas, but also in many of its residential complexes and neighborhoods. The festive programme includes cultural, culinary and sports entertainment throughout the day.

The day began with a solemn holy liturgy in honour of St Nicholas the Wonderworker and the prosperity of Burgas, officiated by His Eminence Metropolitan Arseny of Sliven. Afterwards, residents of Burgas were honoured and new Honorary Citizens of Burgas were awarded at a ceremony at the Burgas Municipal Council. Among the official events were also the hoisting of the national, European and municipal flags in the central square, as well as a prayer for the prosperity of the city of Burgas.

Next to the Municipality's building, the St Nicholas ritual table was consecrated and the locals were able to try fish dishes around the city. For their preparation, nearly three tons of fish were used, from which a total of 3,500 portions of fish soup and 9,000 portions of fish were made. The programme also included a procession in which wreaths and flowers were cast into the sea in memory of the fallen sailors and fishermen, as well as wreath-laying ceremonies at the monument of Alexander Georgiev - Kodzhakafaliata*. A blood donation initiative was held in the Department of Transfusion Hematology of the Burgas Hospital, with municipal councilours and employees of the municipal administration participating in it.

Traditionally, the Artist of the Year Award of the Burgas Municipality was also presented and the annual exhibition of the Society of Burgas Artists was opened as well. In the Burgas Art Gallery, a concert was held featuring performances by students of the Pancho Vladigerov High School. There was also an exhibition of paintings on display to mark the centenary of artist Georgi Baev's birth. Meanwhile, the Writer's House hosted the Great Carp humour contest.

In the evening, the lights of the Christmas tree will be officially lit, after which there will be a concert with the participation of Tony Dimitrova and the Argirovi Brothers.

*Alexander Georgiev, known by the nickname Kodzhakafaliata [meaning "big head" in Turkish - he received the nickname due to his remarkable memory], was a Bulgarian entrepreneur, born in 1890 in the village of Zidarovo, near Burgas. He is known as one of the biggest benefactors in the history of Burgas, who has helped the development of the city and donated BGN 25 million to over 600 poor families in need, most of which Bulgarian refugees from the Ottoman Empire. Before his death on July 15, 1913, he bequeathed most of his wealth to the city of Burgas.

/KK/