Liberation Day (Bulgaria)
Liberation Day, celebrated on March 3, is a national holiday in Bulgaria that commemorates the signing of the Treaty of San Stefano in 1878, which marked the establishment of an independent Bulgarian state after centuries of Ottoman rule. This event is significant in Bulgarian history and reflects the nation's journey toward sovereignty following a long period of foreign domination. The holiday not only celebrates national identity but also acknowledges the support of the Russian Empire in Bulgaria's quest for independence, as the Russians aided the Bulgarians in their rebellion against the Ottomans.
The history of Bulgaria is rich and complex, with influences from the ancient Thracians and significant interactions with the Byzantine Empire. Bulgaria eventually became a prominent power in the Balkans before falling under Ottoman control during the late 14th century. While the Treaty of San Stefano allowed for nominal independence, Bulgaria remained heavily influenced by Russia until it declared full independence in 1908.
In the aftermath of World War II, Bulgaria entered a period of communist rule under Soviet influence, which lasted until the late 1980s. Today, Bulgaria is navigating the challenges of transitioning to a modern, Western-style society and economy, grappling with issues related to emigration and development. Liberation Day serves as a reminder of this historical struggle and the ongoing evolution of the Bulgarian state and identity.
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Liberation Day (Bulgaria)
Liberation Day (Bulgaria)
Liberation Day, a national holiday in the European nation of Bulgaria, is observed every March 3 in honor of the Treaty of San Stefano, an agreement between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire of Turkey executed on March 3, 1878, which created an independent Bulgarian nation.
Bulgaria is located in the Balkans, a region of southeastern Europe. It is bordered by the Black Sea to the east, Turkey and Greece to the south, Romania to the north, and various states of the former nation of Yugoslavia to the west. In 2000 Bulgaria had a population of roughly 8 million, approximately 1 million of whom lived in Sofia, the capital and largest city. In classical times Bulgaria was part of the area known as Thrace, much of which came under the suzerainty of the Romans. The Bulgars, a Slavic tribe from which the country derives its name, invaded the region beginning in the seventh century a.d. The Eastern Roman Empire, later known as the Byzantine Empire, resisted the Bulgars' incursions but not very successfully. By the ninth century Bulgaria was an important regional power in the Balkans, converting to Christianity in the year 864, but in the late 14th century it was itself conquered by the Muslim Turks. The Ottoman Empire of the Turks would rule Bulgaria until the late 20th century, when the Bulgarians rebelled and were aided by the powerful Russian Empire.
Over the centuries the empire of the Russians had grown to eclipse that of the Ottomans. The Russians came to the assistance of the Bulgarians out of a desire to expand their empire at the expense of the Turks and to help their fellow Slavs and Christians. After the Treaty of San Stefano, Bulgaria was nominally independent but largely under Russia's thumb, because it needed Russia's patronage to stay free from the Ottomans. True independence did not arrive until 1908, when internal Ottoman disorder enabled the elected prince Ferdinand to declare himself King of Bulgaria. After World War II, Bulgaria again came under Russian sway, as part of the sphere of influence established by the Soviet Union in Eastern Europe after the defeat of Nazi Germany. Bulgaria had a communist, Soviet-dominated government until the late 1980s, when the Soviet Union began to disintegrate. Today Bulgaria struggles with the many problems accompanying the transition to a Western-style society and a free-market economy; hundreds of thousands of its people have emigrated.