March 3rd is a public holiday (and an important annual day of remembrance) in Bulgaria.
Liberation Day is a yearly celebration of Bulgaria’s liberation from almost 500 years of Ottoman rule.
The Treaty of San Stefano ended the Russo-Turkish War in 1877 and paved the way for the liberation of Bulgaria. This allowed Bulgaria to establish itself as a nation and successfully put the country back on the world map.
Celebrated like Independence Day in the United States, there are public cultural shows and street parades. The government holds ceremonial hoistings of the Bulgarian flag in monuments across the country, including the well known the Unknown Soldier Monument in Sofia, Bulgaria. Wreaths of flowers are also offered at public monuments such as Liberty Monument at Shipka.
Learn more about Bulgaria’s National Holidays here: Bulgaria Travel