Denka Tsaneva and her life in Chile and Munich with Bulgaria in her heart

The life of our compatriot Denka Tsaneva resembles an engrossing novel whose chapters are written on two continents, yet always with Bulgaria in mind. Today, Denka is one of the active members of the Bulgarian community in Munich, where she works with energy and dedication to preserve the Bulgarian language and traditions among the youngest generation. She teaches at both Bulgarian schools in the Bavarian capital.

"Paisii Hilendarski" was the first Bulgarian school established in Munich and has now been operating for more than 15 years, while "Dora Gabe" celebrated its tenth anniversary two years ago. What began as small groups of children has grown significantly, and today each school has around 300 students.

"We are expanding and hope to continue growing. Both schools offer extracurricular activities connected with Bulgarian culture, including folk dancing for children and adults, traditional crafts, theatre and music, as well as a joint group bringing together students from both schools. Its leader, Mr. Yuliyan Sotirov, is a musician and the principal of Paisii Hilendarski School. The group performs many beautiful Bulgarian songs, including the iconic 'My Country, My Bulgaria'. They take part in all major events, including those organized by the Bulgarian Consulate General in Munich", says Denka Tsaneva in an interview for Radio Bulgaria.

Her work encompasses everything from teaching Bulgarian language, literature, history and geography to older students to working with children in preschool groups. Her creativity is also evident in the extracurricular activities, where she introduces children to traditional crafts such as knitting, weaving, spinning and embroidery.

"It turns out that these children are incredibly creative and eager to sing, dance and perform in theatre productions. This allowed us, for the first time in the school's history, to stage a theatrical adaptation of the Bulgarian fairy tale The Golden Girl. The performance was very successful, and the parents were extremely pleased," Denka Tsaneva says, adding a reflection on the emotional significance of these gatherings:

"Parents try to maintain their connection with Bulgaria through the Bulgarian school. This is very important for them, not only for their children but also for themselves. It helps them reconnect with their homeland and with their own childhood memories."

Inspired by the theatre production, Denka created an elaborate stage set depicting a traditional Bulgarian home. Denka's House, as she named it, also became one of the highlights of the largest folklore gathering of Bulgarians abroad, the festival Na Megdana na Drugata Balgaria ("On the Village Square of the Other Bulgaria"), held in Munich in mid-May.

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"I decided to create a project using recyclable materials, cardboard crates from a nearby supermarket. I built a corner of an old Bulgarian house, complete with windows and curtains, shelves and cupboards. From previous presentations we already had a fireplace, which we incorporated into the interior, along with a fountain. After completing the corner of the house, I decided to use it as a stage set for the play. The interior represented the home of the Golden Girl's family, while the exterior became the grandmother's house in the forest. To make the scene more vivid, I added a fence decorated with blooming sunflowers and yaldazi (dahlias). I also included a swallow's nest, which for me symbolizes a direct connection to our homeland. My greatest pride is a chest containing my grandmother's dowry. I used rugs and traditional cloths that belonged to her, as well as a ceremonial flask from my father's time. Many of these items are between 50 and 100 years old."

Before settling in Munich, Denka's journey took her to South America, where she spent nearly a decade because of the work of her husband, astronomer Valentin Ivanov, who worked at the European Southern Observatory. The family spent ten years in Chile, where their three children were born. From an early age, Denka taught them Bulgarian at home.

"Living in Chile is interesting, but you need money. Chile is quite a poor country, and if you do not have a good job that provides sufficient income, life is not easy or carefree."

Life in Latin America also confronted her with serious challenges, including the devastating 7.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Chile in 2010. The experience left a profound mark on her and revealed the strength of human solidarity.

"It was an extraordinary experience because when part of the country lies in ruins and many people are left without homes, you witness how a society in which people do not usually concern themselves much with one another suddenly comes together and achieves things that otherwise would never be possible. We collected aid of every kind, and when you meet someone under such circumstances, you feel as though they are your brother, because they have lived through the same experience as you."

With her tireless spirit and creativity, Denka Tsaneva demonstrates that wherever a Bulgarian may live in the world, they carry their roots with them, sometimes in a chest filled with their grandmother's woven rugs, sometimes in history lessons, but always through a love passed on to future generations.

Edited by E. Karkalanova
English: R. Petkova