When we doubt the adequacy of values in life, when sadness overwhelms and faith in a better future is shaken, then we feel the need to go back to the pure and unadulterated source of wisdom and hope. We find it in the memory of our national heroes and draw inspiration from the rich folklore of our people. That thirst to live shoulder to shoulder with people from her native town made a young and ambitious Bulgarian girl return to Bulgaria from the USA. Diana Dimitrova is an ancestral resident of the town of Elin Pelin (Sofia district). She spent nearly 10 years abroad. I was born in this town. It left a permanent mark in my life. Elin Pelin is a wonderful place for our children and I really want my three children to grow up here, Diana Dimitrova told Radio Bulgaria and added:

I and my family returned from the USA three years ago. In the beginning I could not find a place where I could work with all my energy. I started an active public activity. For instance, we organized a petition for construction of a new playground. We also did blood donation campaign. Them the Mayor of Elin Pelin, Ivailo Simeonov contacted me and invited me to join his team. His arguments were that the local municipality needed such hotheads who are willing to work for the commonweal. Thus, I started as a senior expert Public Relations with the Elin Pelin municipality. Working in the administration has its pros and cons. However, it is time for the younger and more positive people to change the blood of the state administration. The problems will never end, but unfortunately people cause most of them. If we do not change our attitude and way of thinking things will never change for the better. Sooner or later we will pay through the nose for our flimflamming. Unfortunately, our children also start thinking that they can get away with that. And we are to blame for the lack of penalties, which produces greater evils.

Elin Pelin municipality plays host to multiple folklore fairs and events held on the town square. On April 6 the town will host “Na Horoto Pri Shopite” festival. The preparations for Lazaritsa custom associated with Lazarovden (Saint Lazarus’ Day) have begun. However, the 50^th edition of the traditional Shoppe Festival which will be held between June 17 and 23 is the biggest event in Elin Pelin in 2019. The festive programme abounds with reenactments of ancient customs and traditions. The Municipality of Elin Pelin also has other patriotic endeavors aimed at the youngest residents. It organizes regular meetings of “Az Sum Bulgarche” club where the rising generation learns details about the life and the deed of the eminent personalities of the Bulgarian history.

We do not talk enough about Levski, Rakovski, Botev and other great Bulgarians to our children and they need to learn more about our national heroes, Diana Dimitrova says and adds:

That is why we founded the club and gather every third and fourth Sunday of the month. The children show huge interest. Last month over 100 children with a thirst for knowledge attended the lecture about Levski. They stand in front of us, watch us with curiosity and wait to learn something about this great Bulgarian that would make them say: “Here, I am Levski! A piece of this great Bulgarian lives in me!”

The last meeting was held in March. It was themed Nameless Heroes of Shipka and the gathering on April 21 will be dedicated to Rayna Popgeorgieva also known as Rayna Knyaginya, a teacher and midwife from the town of Panagyurishte who embroidered the flag of the April Uprising. We believe that it is never enough to speak about the heroism and the self-sacrifice of our ancestors. I hope that we will make an Alley of the Bulgarian Rulers in Elin Pelin. We will decorate the façade of one of the local schools with the names of the rulers and the years of their reign. Thus, we will remind that our country was established over 13 centuries ago and we should be very proud of that.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov