The celebration of the Day of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Bulgaria: the transformation of a religious holiday to a school and national one

Abstract

The article examines the historical transformation of the Day of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Bulgaria from a purely religious feast into a school and national holiday. The study provides the cultural and historical background of this celebration, which honors the creators of the Slavic alphabet and pioneers of literacy among the Slavs. The research aims to trace the mechanisms and stages of this transformation, emphasizing how a church holiday evolved into a major marker of Bulgarian identity and culture. The study draws on both historical sources and ethnographic fieldwork conducted in 2009 in the mountain town of Chepelare, Bulgaria. Using interviews with local residents and archival materials, Zhekova explores how religious, educational, and civic traditions have intertwined over time. The findings demonstrate that the holiday, first celebrated as a school feast in Plovdiv in 1851, gradually acquired a secular dimension during the Bulgarian National Revival, merging religious rituals with educational festivities. After Bulgaria’s Liberation in 1878, the celebration became national in character, and under socialism it was further transformed into a mass public manifestation emphasizing education, enlightenment, and collective identity. In Chepelare, the holiday has preserved its traditional form, including both church rituals and civic events such as torch processions and concerts, reflecting the coexistence of Orthodox Christians and Muslims in the community. The study concludes that the Day of Saints Cyril and Methodius symbolizes the dynamic interaction between religion, education, and national identity, serving as a living example of how cultural traditions adapt to political and social changes while maintaining their spiritual essence.