Bulgaria has a history of more than 13 centuries in Europe and its traditions ought to be handed over to the generations to come. No wonder then that for the enthusiasts from the Association for Development of Arts and Crafts safeguarding traditions has become a mission. Every year they contact dozens of craftsmen, folklore performers and explorers from across the country. In this way they nominate some of them for the annual Guardian of Traditions Awards aimed to focus public attention on people engaged in folklore traditions. „We credit these people for preserving the Bulgarian national identity”, the founders of the nominations contends.

The categories in the Guardian of Traditions Awards include folklore, crafts, art, traditional food. Individuals, organizations and communities are eligible for them. A special jury is called to assess nominations. Highest rates are given to individuals who not only practice traditions but also promote them in the community. One example is Rositsa Staneva from the town of Pavlikeni. She started weaving on a loom four years ago and already takes part in various festivals. She is always keen to show how she works to the audience, and has shared her skills with dozens of people. More from the member of the Association for Development of Arts and Crafts Marieta Nedkova, a craftswoman making leather articles and woolen works of applied art.

„The Guardians of Traditions are worthwhile Bulgarians. The message of our campaign is to urge people so that they would see themselves as guardians of traditions. This is a source of pride and a feeling of belonging. Bulgarians have contributed to the world culture and we should promote that fact. Traditions are alive provided they are handed over from person to person. Unfortunately these people are hardly noticed in society and they are not properly acknowledged. They are often underestimated though they are truly creative and talented. Craftsmen invest their heart and soul in their creations and messages. There is creativity and warmth in the old crafts such as woodcarving, icon-painting or furriery. They are the way to preserve traditions that date back many centuries ago. Crafts are handed over from parents to children - they are not learned from textbooks or online videos. It is the master who can disclose some of the craft's secrets and give those who want to learn a direction of how craftsmanship is organized and how its messages reach other people.”

Part of the Guardian of Traditions Award campaign is a national roundtable highlighting schools that maintain classes in which arts are taught. The Association for Development of Arts and Crafts is trying to promote the achievements of their students and thus encourage study of crafts and arts in school. Iva Koteva, 13, is trained at 144 school in Sofia in a class specialized in the study of folklore. The teenager was nominated for the award in the Folklore Category after her performance won the admiration of the audience:

„My teacher is famous folk singer Binka Dobreva and I have many prizes from folklore competitions. I feel very deeply involved in traditions and I want to see more people feeling proud as Bulgarians. My friends at school support me and I think that many children in Sofia have come to love folk songs and take pride in them. I feel the bond with traditions most strongly when I visit the village of Borino in the Rhodope Mountains. People know me there, and still remember my great-grandpa who was the founder of the 100 Low-Pitched Bagpipes Folk Orchestra.”

English Daniela Konstantinova

The audio file contains the following songs:

1. Quick Shoppe Chain Dance

2. Whose is That Girl, perf. by Gotse Delchev Ensemble

3. Momne le, perf. by Valya Balkanska