Heartfelt wishes warmed the hearts of the Radio Bulgaria team

As Christmas and the New Year were approaching, Radio Bulgaria’s sections in 11 languages received dozens of mails, greeting cards and wishes from listeners, partners and institutions from all over the world. From Pakistan and India, Germany, Austria and Spain, Albania, Turkey, Italy and the Bulgarian communities abroad – the words that reached us truly warmed our hearts. They are a sign of trust in the reliable information and the warm human approach of the Radio Bulgaria staff to our users in other countries.

From Pakistan, our English language service received warm wishes from Muhammad Aqeel Bashir, and all the members of Pak Listeners Club, Jhang City, Pakistan.

“We would sincerely like to thank each and every one of you for your dedication, hard work and commitment. Your efforts, teamwork and professionalism are the true power of the radio station and all of you are highly appreciated,” reads the letter by Muhammad Aqeel Bashir who goes on to wish Radio Bulgaria’s staff “success, good health, happiness and fresh opportunities” during the new year.

One more mail came from faraway Pakistan, addressed to the English language service staff. Malik Allah Bachaya Khokharfrom the Radio Sungat Listeners Club writes:

“I am writing from Pakistan as a regular and enthusiastic listener of the Bulgarian National Radio English Service programs. It is a great pleasure for me to tune in to your broadcasts, which are always very informative, interesting, and exciting. Your programs provide valuable insight into Bulgaria’s culture, history, society, and current affairs, and they play an important role in promoting mutual understanding between nations. I especially appreciate the clear presentation style, balanced content, and professional standard of your English Service. The programs are not only a reliable source of information but also a great source of learning and enjoyment for international listeners like me. Through your broadcasts, I have learned much about Bulgaria’s traditions, people, and national development. Your dedication to quality broadcasting is truly commendable. On the occasion of the New Year 2026, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations and sincere appreciation to the producers, presenters, journalists, and technical staff who work hard to bring these wonderful programs to listeners around the world.”

From India, Anand Mohan Bain - President, RFI Pariwer Bandhu SWL Club - sends best wishes to all the Radio Bulgaria team: “Merry Christmas and a peaceful, happy New Year 2026 to everybody.”

“I am a follower and web visitor of your social networks. I am a fan of Radio Bulgaria because it is my third eye to see and feel Bulgaria, its history, arts and cultures, people, places and travel destinations. The BNR is my one and only source of information about Bulgaria,” writes Mr. Najimuddin from West Bengal, Director of the International DX. Radio Listeners Club. He sends “warm wishes to Radio Bulgaria for continued progress and success in the year ahead. To all friends around the world, I wish you health, happiness, and peace, as well as moments of goodness that brighten your journey in the year to come!”

Their compartiot Jayanta Chakrabarti comments specifically Radio Bulgaria’s podcast Bulgaria Today: “It was a pleasure to listen to your programme on 12 December, 2025 about the latest news and events in beautiful Bulgaria. The presentation by the anchors with such pleasant voices made the experience even better.”

From Austria and Germany came warm greetings for the staff of our German language service.

“Your radio means a lot to me, as does Bulgaria,” writes Kirsten from Dusseldorf.

“I would like to wish you and your colleagues a Merry Christmas with many positive and heartfelt meetings within the family and at work, as well as a peaceful year filled with hope, a prosperous, healthy and blessed 2026!” writes Brunhild Fuhs from Vienna.

Hans-Martin Winner from Thuringia writes: “You and your team are demonstrating the bond with the readers – including with those abroad. Please continue to bring us the latest news from Bulgaria. I think the new design of the website is very well made.”

Helmut Matt lays emphasis on the importance of Radio Bulgaria as a source of information: “A lot of things happened in Bulgaria these past few days, and I followed events with a lot of interest on Radio Bulgaria. I am so glad your programmes exist and we can obtain information directly. The media here could give the news that somewhere in China a bag of rice was dropped. But nothing is said about what is happening in Bulgaria – maybe because it doesn’t fit into the narrative of the government, who knows!”

Francisco Calvo Garcia from Navas de Estena in Spain, a long-time Radio Bulgaria listener in Spanish ever since… 1983, writes: “The BNR has always been among my favourite shortwave stations in Spanish, and now I read your website. I wish you all the best for this Christmas, a world without wars, a peaceful world. I wish you a happy 2026.”

From the US Jairo Castillo writes that he listened to Radio Bulgaria way back in 1982 when he lived in Venezuela. “I would love to visit that wonderful country, Bulgaria, one day, and to see you in person. I wish you a happy Christmas and success in 2026.”

The Christmas wishes from Albania bear a spiritual message:

“May the light of Christ shine on you,” writes Lek Bushpepa from Lezhes, and goes on: “A merry Christmas! Peace and Christ’s blessing in your hearts and in your families. Amen!”

Pali Ndoya from Shkodër thanks “the Lord Jesus Christ for every good thing every day gives us.” A number of friends also send good wishes on social media. We would like to thank Mentar Kodra, Osman Murati, Artlir Shllaku, Shpëtim Kuniqi, Bina Meca, Nadire Lica Bicaku, Arif Pupuleku,Pajtim Hoxha and many others.

Shasine Alieva from Popovo, a listener of Radio Bulgaria’s Turkish-lanhguage programs for many years writes: “Let there be love, warmth, tenderness, peace and comfort in the studio and in your homes.” Actually, the Turkish-language programme is the only foreign language programme of the Bulgarian National Radio that is available to listeners in the traditional way – via radio waves on the territory of Bulgaria.

Aishe Syuleiman, a teacher from Zarnevo village sends New Year’s greetings to the entire staff of the Bulgarian National Radio: “To all of you in front of the microphone and to all listeners! I wish a very happy New Year! May it be healthy and may it bring happiness and most of all – peace.”

Folk singer Mehmed Davut from Jebel sends a message for “prosperity and peace”.

We received greetings from a number of institutions like the Cultural Association Virtu and the Bulgarian Sunday school in Italy Abagar – with wishes for “joint projects and fruitful cooperation”.

The Association of Bulgarian Schools Abroad say: “We appreciate your support for the mission of preserving the Bulgarian language and spirit abroad.”

The official letters include the one by Andrea Vavrikova, consul of the embassy of Slovakia in Sofia, as well as by Bulgarian cultural and educational associations in Athens and Cologne.

All of these words – from the heart, sincere, full of hope – remind us why we do what we do here at Radio Bulgaria. They give us the strength to continue to be a bridge between Bulgaria and the world, a source of reliable information, and human connection.

In 2026 Radio Bulgaria will continue to cover everything about the events, traditions, history and culture in Bulgaria in 11 languages, to seek a dialogue and to uphold the trust of our users worldwide. We would like to thank you for every letter, mail, for every word, for every hope you shared with us. They are our most cherished gift and the most powerful incentive for us to continue forward – together.

• From Rome with holiday cheer to Radio Bulgaria andfriends worldwide!

• Light, health and dreams – holiday wishes from Bulgarians in the UK

Edited by Elena Karkalanova
Translated by Milena Daynova

Photos courtesy of Helmut Matt, abgschool.org, Radio Bulgaria archives, Pixabay, Facebook/scuolaabagar, Slovakia embassy in Sofia