site.btaObservances: December 31-January 4

December 31

On this date in Bulgarian history:

1964: Diplomatic relations established with Republic of the Congo.

1964: Bishop Sophronius of Vratsa, leading figure of early Bulgarian National Revival, is canonized as a saint.

1984: Diplomatic relations with Egypt are restored (established February 3, 1926, severed January 9, 1942, restored March 26, 1947, severed again December 5, 1978).

2002: Kozloduy N-Plant Units 1 and 2 are taken off stream, honouring commitments linked to Bulgaria's EU accession.

2006: Kozloduy N-Plant Units 3 and 4 are taken off stream, fulfilling Bulgaria's obligations under its EU Accession Treaty.

January 1

The world:

- National Day of Cuba: Liberation Day, overthrow of Batista regime (1959).

- National Day of Haiti: Independence Day (1804).

- National Day of The Sudan: Independence Day (1956).

On this date in Bulgarian history:

1986: Rogozen Treasure (Thracian hoard of 165 silver vessels, dated between late 6th and first half of 4th c. BC, weighing 20 kg) is discovered in Rogozen Village (Northwestern Bulgaria).

1993: Diplomatic relations established with Czech Republic and with Slovakia.

2007: Bulgaria's and Romania's EU Accession Treaty, signed on April 25, 2005, enters into force.

2014: Labour market restrictions for Bulgarians in all EU Member States are lifted.

January 2

On this date in Bulgarian history:

1876: The Zornitsa weekly of the evangelical churches in Bulgaria is launched in Constantinople by American missionaries.

1891: Sofia's Drama and Opera Company gives its first opera performance.

1903: A congress in Thessaloniki decides that a revolt, later known as the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising, should be staged in the coming spring to liberate Bulgarians in Macedonia and Eastern Thrace who were left outside Bulgaria's borders under the 1878 Treaty of Berlin. The uprising does not break out until July 20.

January 3

On this date in Bulgarian history:

1907: National Theatre building in Sofia inaugurated.

1945: Diplomatic relations with Italy restored (severed September 7, 1944).

1988: First Bulgarian test tube baby born.

1991: Political parties in 7th Grand National Assembly agree on peaceful transition to democracy.

1997: Trade union and civic organizations stage protests against Socialist government.

2007: European Commission Representation opens in Sofia.

January 4

The world:

- National Day of Myanmar: Independence Day (1948).

On this date in Bulgarian history:

1878: Sofia Liberation Day (marks anniversary of Sofia's Liberation from Ottoman rule by General Yosif V. Gurko's Russian troops in 1878).

1915: Military Academy, Bulgaria's oldest military school, is inaugurated in Sofia.

1924: State Protection Act is passed, enters into force on January 23, 1924. Invoked to outlaw five parties and public organizations and to confiscate their properties on April 2, 1924; amended and supplemented four times; repealed on October 16, 1944.

1969: Diplomatic relations are established with Malaysia at embassy level.

1990: Movement for Rights and Freedoms is established in the coastal city of Varna.