The Bulgarian Spring Gala in Groningen Celebrated Arts and Culture
The Bulgarian Spring Gala in Groningen Celebrated Arts and Culture
On May 24th, the Bulgarian Society Groningen organised a Spring Gala to celebrate Bulgarian culture. It was a truly spectacular evening, complete with a rich program and an opportunity to wear your best evening attire.
The gala featured a variety of live musical acts during the evening. Velislava, a Bulgarian student, was particularly impressed by the classical music performance. "The musicians had arranged the music themselves; I felt proud at that very moment," she shared. Lisa, an international, agreed, noting, "The drum solo at the beginning was interesting and the later performances were equally as beautiful. I haven’t heard a xylophone outside of middle school, so I really enjoyed the live music."
During the breaks, attendees had the chance to explore an art exhibition showcasing alternative paintings and stamps on clothes created by Bulgarian students in Groningen. Velislava found this exhibit fascinating, especially the tattoo artist offering ancient Bulgarian runes tattoos. "Looking through the options, I found it quite a unique and fun part of the experience. Bulgarian runes were used in pagan times for magical rituals until the 10th century," she explained.
"The venue was fitting, with patterned rugs decorating the space that any Slavic person would recognise from their grandparents' homes. It was a clever touch, creating a relaxed and elegant ambience," Lisa commented, wondering if it was intentional or a happy coincidence.
Snacks and drinks were available throughout the evening, and later on, a few trays with homemade desserts arrived, immersing the guests deeper into the authenticity of the gala. The accompaniment of jazz made the atmosphere extra cheerful. "The breaks between activities provided a nice opportunity to meet new people and enjoy traditional food and desserts," Lisa mentioned. Velislava also remarked on the diversity of guests, "Although I expected only Bulgarians to show up, people from Iran, Russia, Ukraine, the Netherlands, England, and more joined in as well."
One of the evening's highlights was the horo dance, a traditional Bulgarian dance that brought everyone together. "The energy spread to everyone, as most were swept up into the circle, effortlessly nailing the footwork. It was so much fun, and everyone was enjoying themselves too much to notice that I couldn’t keep up," Lisa recalled. Velislava noted the communal spirit of the dance: "We all laughed at our unsure steps!"
Yoana Drageva, a representative of the Executive agency of Bulgarians abroad, flew from Sofia, Bulgaria, to celebrate the holiday at the Spring gala. She gave a short speech and greeted Bulgarians for the Day of their language and culture.
The Bulgarian Society Groningen also used the event as an opportunity to announce the transfer of leadership to the next board. Lazar Popov, who used to be the president of the Bulgarian Society Groningen is now taking over the same chair work of the broader Bulgarian Society in the Netherlands.
The Spring Gala was a celebration of the Day of the Bulgarian Language, Enlightenment, and Culture, commemorating Cyril and Methodius, the creators of the Cyrillic and Glagolitic alphabets. This significant day added a deeper layer of cultural pride and reflection to the event.
Kateryna Sydorenko, a Ukrainian student in Groningen, reflected on the cultural integration at the gala. "Regarding the cultural aspects, I feel like some cultures of students here are underrepresented, and it's always nice to have friends from other countries to dip your toes into their culture. It's also the essence of any Dutch university, a chance to get exposed to as many cultures as possible and to become a member of the international community," she said.
The Bulgarian Spring Gala was a great success, where everyone left feeling a little closer to Bulgarian culture, perhaps mostly due to the warm and friendly hospitality. More than 130 people participated in the event, and other associations such as Hellenic Students Association, IFMSA-Groningen, DECENTRALIZED RUG, and Groninger Debating Society Kalliope were invited.
The event was organised by the Bulgarian Society Groningen, and they have branched in most cities of the Netherlands, and soon in Eindhoven. It is exactly their aim to share their culture with others and give Bulgarians a space to feel at home away from home.
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