Days of national pride in the Bulgarian section of European School in Brussels

During this school year, the Bulgarian children from the kindergarten and primary school at the European School in Brussels are marking Bulgaria’s National Day with a series of creative and educational initiatives. Over the course of one week, all 150 Bulgarian students immersed themselves in the history and achievements of their homeland, working on special thematic projects.

The kindergarten children, together with their teacher Ivan Yovchev, prepared for the upcoming National Day – March 3 – by learning about Bulgaria’s national symbols and revisiting some Bulgarian traditions. They showed particular interest in the topic of Bulgarian revolutionaries and their deeds, sang the Bulgarian national anthem and patriotic songs with youthful enthusiasm and spirit, and created display panels to take part in the joint exhibition of the Bulgarian section.

The first-grade students, with their homeroom teacher Tanya Borisova, eagerly and excitedly immersed themselves in the magic of Bulgaria’s national celebration. The young creators crafted Bulgaria’s national symbols and produced beautiful artworks in which they portrayed how they see their homeland in its purest image - through their children’s hearts. All these heartfelt creations were gathered into a beautiful album, while the thematic posters transformed the classroom into a true celebration of the Bulgarian spirit.

A particularly moving lesson was dedicated to traditional Bulgarian clothing. After watching a film and a presentation about the colorful folk costumes, the children, filled with admiration and inspiration, created their own albums, brimming with beauty and pride

The second-grade students, with teacher Desislava Kordeva, enthusiastically prepared their projects to take part in the Bulgarian exhibition, through which they will present the richness of our traditions, customs, and great personalities to their classmates. Each student prepared material on the topic “My Sports Hero,” dedicated to sporting achievements and conquered peaks, some of them even Olympic ones. The second-graders showed teamwork and great enthusiasm while preparing a decorative panel of traditional embroidery patterns made from origami elements.

“Bulgaria - A Piece of Our Hearts” was the overarching theme of the lessons, creative activities, and projects in which the third- and fourth-grade students of the Bulgarian section took part, together with their teachers – Anelia Nankova and Miglena Tomova. Their program included a variety of activities through which they gained a deeper understanding of Bulgarian history, culture, and traditions.

The students learned and performed popular Bulgarian songs such as “Oblache le byalo,” “Tatkovina,” “Tih byal Dunav,” and “Boyat nastana.” During the lessons, discussions were held about the national symbols and their significance, and the highlight was learning and performing the national anthem of the Republic of Bulgaria.

Special attention was given to Bulgarian writing. The students copied verses, learned about the history of the Cyrillic alphabet, and created drawings on the theme “Bulgaria Through My Eyes.”

Preparation in fifth grade was a true journey between tradition and national pride. The fifth-graders sought out the faces of Bulgaria in art. They independently prepared projects about renowned Bulgarian artists who have brought fame to our homeland around the world: Vladimir Dimitrov–Maistora, Donyo Donev, Valya Balkanska, and Christo.

“All of this - from the songs and paintings to the films - comes together in our preparation for March 3,” said teacher Teodora Yaneva. In this way, the children understand that the holiday is not just a date, but an honor. We experience it as a community: with presentations, songs, and above all with the feeling that we are ambassadors of Bulgarian culture here, far from its borders.

The initiative will conclude with a school exhibition and a short festive program on March 3 itself, during which the students will perform Bulgarian songs, recite poems, and present dances before their friends from the other sections of the European School.

Text: Daniela Goleminova

English: R. Petkova