Struma is singing, playing and celebrating because in the middle of August in the village of Nevestino /close to the town of Kyustendil, Western Bulgaria/ a festival is held named after the river that runs through it. This year the festivities begin as early as August 15, the feast of the municipality. In the Christian calendar this is the feast of the Assumption of Virgin Mary. The local church to The Holy Theotokos dating back to the late Middle Ages is located near the village of Pastih, Nevestino. The fair will grow into a musical meeting that will bring together amateur groups and individual performers from all towns and villages along the Struma River. The days of the folk festival are August 16 and 17. More about it from Antoaneta Georgieva, secretary of the municipality.

"This year's edition of “Struma sings” will be the ninth in a row. In 2006 Nevestino municipality restored the ongoing folk festival after an interruption of many years. I and my colleagues are working on the event with great enthusiasm. Our goal is to draw as many amateur groups as possible. We invite each institution, school, and club engaged in Bulgarian folklore to attend the forum. This year we expect 1,500 participants who will perform in two days. The festival is held under the patronage of the Mayor, Eng. Dimitar Stamenov. The stage is in the park of Nevestino village, which is located close to the medieval Kàdin bridge. Built in 1470, it connects the two banks of the Struma River. We decorate the stage with a canvas on which Kàdin bridge is depicted. This creates the impression that the festival is right next to it. Traditionally the two groups of the village will participate: the children's dance ensemble with Prosveta Cultural community centre and the female singing group. "Struma singing" is a contest. And since it involves singers, instrumentalists and dancers, the jury has representatives from each region. Svetla Tsvetkova, a folk singer and professor at the music school in Sofia, will assess the vocal skills. Antoaneta Assenova-Daneva, choreographer, will see to dancers, and Petyo Krastev, head of the Orchestra of Pirin Ensemble, is responsible for instrumental groups and individual performances."

All participants will receive certificates, and the best performers have awards: plaques for the groups and a medal for individual performers.

At the Struma sings festival guests can hear songs and melodies from two folk regions: Shoppe and Pirin. Each group or individual artist presents two songs. The groups for folk customs may also participate as well as storytellers of folk legends. Thus the tradition is transmitted to the young generation and the unique Bulgarian folklore is preserved.

English Rossitsa Petcova