Bulgaria celebrates Liberation Day. See when is it
Bulgaria marks Liberation Day on March 3, 2023, commemorating its independence after almost 500 years of Ottoman control. The Treaty of San Stefano recognized Bulgaria as an independent state on March 3, 1878, following the Russo-Turkish War.

Bulgaria's history dates back to the First Bulgarian Empire, which was formed in 681 A.D. After the Second Bulgarian Empire fell to the Ottomans in 1396, Bulgaria was under Ottoman authority for nearly 500 years. Two uprisings against Ottoman rule in 1875 and 1876 resulted in the deaths of thousands of Bulgarians. Tzar Alexander II led Russia against the Ottomans in 1877, and the Treaty of San Stefano was signed on March 3, 1878.
The Treaty of San Stefano paved the way for Bulgaria's independence, but its influence was opposed by the Great Powers, and it was replaced by the Treaty of Berlin in July 1878. Nonetheless, Bulgaria declared its independence on March 3, 1878, and established its government, leadership, and culture. Prince Alexander of Battenberg became Bulgaria's first ruler on March 3, 1880.
Liberation Day was first declared in 1888, a decade after Bulgaria's independence. It became a national holiday in 1978 and was officially recognized by the Chairman of the State Council on February 27, 1990. On this day, Bulgarians commemorate the sacrifices made by their forefathers during the war for independence, particularly in smaller communities that were devastated during the conflict. People leave flowers and messages on Bulgarian Liberation Monuments and celebrate with fireworks.
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