site.btaTsaribrod Marks Municipal Holiday with Ceremony and Cultural Events

The Serbian municipality of Tsaribrod (Dimitrovgrad), predominantly inhabited by ethnic Bulgarians, celebrated its annual holiday today, coinciding with the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary according to the Julian calendar.

The festivities began shortly after 2 p.m. Sunday at the Municipal Cultural Center, with citizens and visitors able to taste and purchase products from local artisans. The official session of the municipal council opened with greetings to special guests, including the Bulgarian Ambassador to Belgrade Petko Doykov, acting Consul General in Nis Tsvetomir Yordanov, and mayors and officials from several Bulgarian municipalities and national institutions.

Municipal Council Chairman Zoran Djurov reviewed key events of the past year, highlighting challenges posed by climate-related water shortages and political instability in Serbia that have affected Tsaribrod's finances. He expressed hope for the construction of a new border checkpoint to facilitate cross-border commuting.

Mayor Vladica Dimitrov called for solidarity between Bulgaria and Serbia, while Ambassador Doykov emphasized the holiday’s significance, connecting it to Bulgaria’s historic dates of Unification and Independence and praising the preservation of Bulgarian language, spirit, and traditions in Tsaribrod.

Other speakers included Deputy Mayor of Tsaribrod Yasho Minkov and Deputy Chairman of the Municipal Council of Stara Zagora Ivan Vurlyakov, who conveyed greetings from Bulgaria, and Assoc. Prof. Hristo Popov of the National Archaeological Institute in Sofia, highlighting active cultural and academic cooperation between Bulgarian institutions and Tsaribrod.

Congratulatory messages were also read from various Bulgarian municipalities and the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad. The ceremony concluded with awards to notable citizens, a festive concert, a guest luncheon, and sports events. 

Ahead of the session, a group of citizens gathered outside the Cultural Center with banners in support of nationwide student protests and expressing criticism of the government, greeting official guests with chants and questions.