How Should You Behave Around Bulgarian People?

Did you know that Bulgarian people nod their heads to mean no and shake them to mean yes? That’s the first thing to remember when you’re meeting them. That, and the fact that you should shake hands politely rather than kiss them on the cheeks.

These aspects aside, it’s actually quite difficult to make too many generalisations about Bulgarian people and their customs.

The term Bulgarians, you see, covers a wide range of ethnic groups within the country, all of whom have the right to reproduce their original identities.

Of the approximately seven and a half million people – it was a million more a decade ago but many young, skilled workers have left for EU countries, Turkey and the USA – most are Slavonic speaking Christians but there are a significant number of Muslim Turks, Gypsies, Jews, Russians and a wide variety of other backgrounds within the country.

The traditions of the people are, consequently, mainly Slavonic but there are also many Balkan connections derived from their Greek, Rumanian and Turkish neighbours which have influenced their culture, customs and cuisine.

As in many countries of this area, there are significant differences between the more ‘modern’ lifestyles to be found in the cities, with most people living in apartments, and those in the countryside where people can still be seen working the land in more or less the same way as they did generations ago.

Globalisation hasn’t really reached rural Bulgaria – which is one of its undoubted charms – although nowadays many houses in villages are second homes, for professionals from the cities as well as foreign purchasers.

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But the important thing is to have a little knowledge of Bulgarian etiquette before you meet the Bulgarian people themselves – this should help you to avoid those social gaffes which can cause considerable embarrassment and even scupper business deals.

Well, that shaking and nodding thing will take you a little while to get used to, for a start.

Bulgarian people are usually, especially the older generation, very formal with strangers, they will want to use – Mr or Mrs rather than first names – that’s Gospodin and Gospozha. They are, however, very proud of their hospitality so don’t be surprised to be invited to their homes. If that does happen, it’s customary to take a small gift with you – nothing too elaborate; perhaps flowers, wine or some such thing.

Evening visits usually begin around 8 pm – and go on till quite late - and it’s common to take your shoes off inside the house; you might well be offered a pair of slippers to wear. You’ll almost certainly be given a glass or two of rakiya and perhaps a piece of pumpkin banitsa (layered pastry) or baklava (a very thin pastry with a nutty, syrupy filling).

Should you be invited to a wedding whilst you’re there – unlikely I know but it’s a good story – you’ll see the newly weds have a ‘tug o’ war’ with a loaf of bread – the one who rips off the largest section of the loaf is the head of the House!

The Bulgarian people still enjoy their folk dancing and traditional music but the country is sport crazy so you will be able to talk about football, basketball and skiing – or at least you will with the younger generations, who are beginning to learn English now, instead of the Russian which was necessary for their parents and grandparents.

Don’t be too surprised, either, to meet some older people who feel that the country’s ‘going to the dogs’ with its new ideas and freedoms and tell you life was so much better in the old communist days when you knew where you were and everybody was together.

Bulgarian people have come a long way in a comparatively few years but they remain a friendly, hospitable, family-centred nation.

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