Bulgaria: A Country Profile

Formal Name: Republic of Bulgaria (Republika B¿lgariya).
Short Form: Bulgaria.
Term for Citizens(s): Bulgarian(s).
Capital: Sofia.
Other Major Cities (in order of population): Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, Ruse, Stara Zagora, Pleven, and Sliven.
Independence: Bulgaria recognizes its independence day as September 22, 1908, when the Kingdom of Bulgaria declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire.
Public Holidays: Bulgaria celebrates the following national holidays: New Year's (January 1); National Day (March 3); Orthodox Easter (variable date in April or early May); Labor Day (May 1); St. George's Day or Army Day (May 6); Education Day (May 24); Unification Day (September 6); Independence Day (September 22); Leaders of the Bulgarian Revival Day (November 1); and Christmas (December 24-26).