Bulgaria celebrated on May 6, the day of Saint George the Victorious, the valour of its army. May 6 has been pronounced Day of the Bulgarian army with a decision of the Bulgarian Cabinet in 1993. Since 1998 it is being marked as a national holiday.

"Bulgaria's armed forces stand guarantee for the country's security," President Georgi Parvanov said in his address at the grandiose military parade on Alexander Batenberg square.

In his words the Bulgarian army is up to the day a symbol of strength, patriotism and high morale.

The president pointed out that Bulgaria has a strong, modern European army, which not only protects the country's territory, but is also a predictable and worthy partner in securing international peace and stability.

Politicians and militaries bowed heads to pay respect to Bulgarian warriors who fell on the battlegrounds and the country's colors were sanctified.

Thousands of ordinary people and guests of the capital city watched the salute of guards of honor with the colors of twelve representative units. The Day of Valour events featured military bands from Austria, Belgium, Greece, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Moldova, Portugal, Romania, Russia, the US, France, Ukraine and Hungary.

On the sidelines of the celebrations of the Day of Bulgarian army, May 6 marks also the national feast Gergyovden, the day of one of the most popular saints - St. George, who is among the few venerated by Christians and Muslims alike.

Saint George the Victorious (Pobedonosets), canonized by the Church because of his brave deeds, is usually painted on icons as riding a white horse with his lance stabbed in the throat of a beast - the dragon. Legend has it that the dragon used to attack the shepherds and their sheep and steal a sheep or a lamb. The shepherds were desperate. Then St. George appeared and killed the dragon.

The holy martyr St. George the Victor has been considered one of the most important Saints ever since Christianity became the official state religion in Bulgaria in the 9th century.

In Bulgaria St. George is the patron of spring verdure and fertility, and of shepherds and farmers. His Day, May 6, is believed to set in summer and the new farming cycle.

Several hundred thousand Bulgarians, including President Georgi Parvanov and Parliament Speaker Georgi Pirinski, celebrate their name days on Wednesday.

A common ritual is to prepare and eat a whole lamb, which is an ancient practice possibly related to Slavic pagan sacrificial traditions and the fact that St. George is the patron saint of shepherds.

Special place on the table is attributed to the ritual Gergyovden bread. All sorts of bread are made for the feast - the cross bread, the shepherd's bread, the large ring-bread, as well as small ones, or the special ring-shaped bun baked by the young wife in the house.

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