Good or bad, memories from being a university student remain forever. This is also true for the Student’s Day marked on December 8. The date has not been chosen by chance. It is linked to the Day of Sveti Sedmochislenitsi (Seven Saints), one of whom is the patron of the oldest university in Bulgaria - Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”. According to a decision of the Academic Council from November 30, 1902, December 8 was declared a holiday of the only university in Bulgaria at that time. The 8^th of December was declared festive day for all Bulgarian university students.

First-year students have been waiting for the Student’s Day with the greatest excitement. This year, however, everything is different because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Speaking to the Bulgarian National Radio, a girl who celebrates the holiday for the first time said:

"Just like all freshmen, we have been looking forward to December 8 and really want to celebrate it. But others joke with us that we didn't have a prom and we won’t have December 8^th, too. We had plans, we had reserved villas, but the lockdown ruined everything. The hotel did not give us the money back, but we are still organizing a party and will celebrate in a small villa, in a narrower circle, without breaking the rules. We would have our celebration!"

The winter resort of Bansko has been one of the most popular destinations among students. Here is what Ruslan Yordanov, owner of a tourism site, says:

"Despite the complicated situation this year, reservations for December 8 started in the summer and in September most of the accommodation places in the Rhodopes and some on the Black Sea coast were booked. However, with the rise of the number of infected, the situation changed and mass cancellation of reservations followed."

That is how Bansko, which welcomed over 20,000 students for their holiday in 2019, now expects a 90% drop in visits from this age group. There are several companies organizing big student parties on December 8. What is the situation there?

"One of them, which gathered 4,000 students last year, is not organizing parties this year. All 600 reservations have been canceled. Another tour operator, which took care of 2,000 students last year, reported 500 bookings in November, out of which only a hundred remained. All of them are for hotels in Bansko that will comply with recommendations not to allow gatherings of more than 15 people in one place. Last year students celebrated in restaurants and discos, but this year they focus on spas. Most reservations are for two nights with breakfast and dinner included and the price of the package is between 50 and 76 euros, depending on the category of the hotel" Ruslan Yordanov, says.

When it comes to guest houses, they are subject to mass inspections by RHI, the Ministry of Interior and the Commission for Consumer Protection in connection with signals that some of their owners would not comply with restrictive measures and would welcome more than 15 people. In case of violations, the respective site would be closed until the end of the season and the owner - fined.

Despite emotions about the festive day, it is important for students to be responsible and to observe all anti-epidemic measures.

Editor: Yoan Kolev

English: Alexander Markov