site.btaObservances: December 20-21

December 20

The Orthodox Church marks the Feast Day of St Ignatius the God-Bearer.

The world:

International Human Solidarity Day.

On this date in Bulgarian history:

1880: The law establishing the Supreme Audit Office is gazetted.

1905: The Bulgarian Dentists Society is established (now Bulgarian Dental Association).

1943: Britain and the United States bomb Sofia during World War II, killing 64 people and destroying 113 buildings. Captain Dimiter Spisarevski performs the first aerial ramming attack in Bulgarian aviation history, downs a US bomber and dies.

1944: Following the September 9 communist takeover, the People's Court opens proceedings against wartime government ministers, regents, royal advisors and members of Parliament.

1979: Diplomatic relations are established with Rwanda.

2006: Parliament elects the first 18 MPs to become members of the European Parliament.

December 21

On this date in Bulgarian history:

1923: Macedonian Research Institute is set up in Sofia. Operates until 1947, restored in May 1990.

1926: Bulgarian Government contracts GBP 2.4 million and USD 4.5 million refugee land settlement loan under League of Nations auspices with group of British, Italian, Swiss, Dutch and US banks (also known as 'the Refugee Loan').

1971: Il-18 airliner with 73 passengers on board crashes during takeoff from Sofia Airport, killing six crew and 24 passengers.

1993: Diplomatic relations established with North Macedonia.

1996: Zhan Videnov resigns as prime minister.

2001: Seven children aged between 10 and 15 die in stampede as some 3,000 teenagers queue at entrance to Indigo Disco in Sofia.

2001: National Assembly passes Personal Data Protection Act.

2006: Bulgaria opens Consulate General in Nis, Serbia.

2010: The last Bulgarian submarine Slava was officially decommissioned from the Bulgarian Navy.