On June 22, the Day of Bulgarian Folklore is celebrated. The day was announced in 2019 by the Ministry of Culture, based on the idea of the "Chinari" Ensemble. and with the support of many artists and institutions. The initiators choose the day as it is in the middle of the year, during the summer solstice and days before Midsummer – events traditionally honored by Bulgarians.
Folk art, or folklore, is a collective term for literary and musical works with an unknown or unspecified author.
In fact, there is co-authorship in their oral transmission, and this common authorship is attributed as a whole to “the people”. In the second half of the 20th century, the English word folklore began to be used in Bulgaria (from folk – people, lore – wisdom). This neologism was coined in 1846 by William Thoms; it replaces the previous concept of English popular antiquities, which is accepted in folklore studies in Bulgaria to be translated as “popular antiquities”, although it corresponds to the Bulgarian term “folk customs”.
Bulgarian folk songs are the most significant, diverse, artistic part of Bulgarian folklore. Folk songs are reflections in poetic form, where text and melody are inextricably linked. Bulgarian folk poetry has its origins in ancient times. The first records of folk songs and singers are from the 9th-10th century. Most folk songs have been preserved from the 18th century. A large part of the old folk songs are not recorded and are forgotten.
Source: plevenzapleven.bg