Bulgaria

22 September, and it’s Bulgaria’s Independence Day. Also—less momentously—it’s also my birthday. I’m pleased to share my birthday with Bulgaria (and Mali) and it gives me a moment to think about my friend Carolyn who is living in Bulgaria for the next year. Bulgaria’s been around for a while—one of those country’s that has a foundation year (601). Even when countries subsequently get folded into other Empires from time to time, I’m impressed when there’s a record of a founding date, simply because it means that a country has thought of itself in terms of national identity for a long time. And the country still holds onto the traditions of the First Bulgarian Empire—the name, the language, the alphabet. Two things I associate with Bulgaria? Well, I guess the first is obvious for anyone brought up on British staples like, yes, The Wombles. Great Uncle Bulgaria. The other was when I happened to be reading around on what had been happening in Europe in the last twenty years and I read that Bulgaria was the first country, after the break-up of the USSR, to vote back a communist government.

Early on there were two Bulgarian Empires, as well as a long period of Ottoman rule. Then came the Kingdom of Bulgarian in 1878, following on from the resolution of the Russo-Turkish War. Then, prior to World War I, Bulgaria was involved in the Balkan Wars of 1912 and 1913. World War I took a toll, and Bulgaria lost territory during these conflict. Following the war, throw in a few coups and Tsar Boris’s lean towards alliance with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. The stage is set.

But there’s a good side here. Though Bulgaria was allied with the Axis side in World War II, the country saved its Jewish population—then around 50,000 people. Hey—that’s fantastic. The Soviets entered Bulgaria in 1944, and so I guess it’s no surprise that after the war, Bulgaria fell under Soviet influence.

Oh, and it’s one of those lovely countries on the Black Sea. Just writing the words “Black Sea” gives me a chill. In a good way.

The poem I have today is by Konstantin Pavlov—I found it online here. Enjoy it. Celebrate my birthday with me.

Capriccio for/about Goya

The old horror is already gone 

brutally absolute and brutally infinite,

no grimaces and no witticism. The horror is changing his character;—

he pats me familiarly on the shoulder,

condescendingly woos me

and toys with the idea of himself:

"We two are equally strong,

only that you're a little handsomer."

And he then smiles at me. Ah, it's this smile that makes him vile;

a pervert

and a lunatic.

And I choke with strange repulsion

as if toddlers in beards and moustache 

strewed lascivious kisses over me.


—Konstantin Pavlov
Translated from the Bulgarian by Polina Dimova