A smothering bowl full of the most typical Bulgarian dish will gather the lovers of the Smilyan beans on a holiday in the Rhodope Mountain. And even if numerous guests arrive from across the country, there will be a portion of this mouth-watering delicacy with a breath of spearmint and hot butter for everyone.

The feast of the Smilyan beans will start on October 19^th in the village of the same name, located on both banks of the Arda River. The celebration will be inaugurated by a salute given by an authentic piece of weaponry - the Bean Cannon. It is a replica of the legendary Bulgarian Revival Period weapon known as “chereshovo topche” – a small cannon made of cherry-tree wood by the freedom fighters of Bulgaria in 1876.

“We call it the “bean” cannon not because it thunders with beans, but because of the two "beans" used instead of wheels”, says Ilya Godev, secretary of the local community centre "Prof. Assen Zlatarov. “We have a tradition already worked out and a special person who prepares the blast as he shoots with gunpowder. The bean cannon is carried manually at the square in front of the community centre, where the outdoor stage is located, it is ignited, thus giving the beginning of the holiday.”

The feast of the Smilyan beans is held every year towards the end of October, when the inhabitants of the village have already harvested their produce. Then, with a relaxed soul, they can have fun and taste the products they grew with their own hands. An exhibition of the local producers will be carried out at the celebration. They will compete for the most attractively arranged stand – not only with Smilyan beans, but also with the region's characteristic honey, dried herbs, potatoes, dairy products, marinated wild mushroom products. A musical entertainment program is also prepared with the participation of guests and local bands from the community centre, school and kindergarten. And more: Smilyan Beans Mountain Running, Bean Games and a panel competition in which children will exhibit their drawings made of beans.

“We have a panel in the ethnographic collection entitled "Smilyan Beans and Rhodope knitted slippers", which the child made from foam, then put a large pot with the inscription "Mars" and added "Food for astronauts", Iliya Godev continues his story. “Many different and unique ideas are encountered, since there is no limit to children's imagination. Of course, the complexity of the craftsmanship often goes to the families - parents, siblings, grandparents, but the good thing about this competition is that it allows several generations of family members to spend time together while preparing the panel.”

The village of Smilyan is expecting to welcome at least 4,000 guests as was the number of visitors last year. At that time, everyone was treated to meals prepared from a total of 300 kg of beans. Of course, Smilyan residents this time will be giving away a special meal for health and a beans soup with a unique taste, nourished by the magic of the holiday.

“This variety of beans has a higher content of vegetable proteins and is also unique for its taste properties – due to the density and fat of the grain structure which sets it apart from other beans varieties”, explains Iliya Godev. “The product is grown exclusively in households, not as an industrial crop. Every family in the village grows beans mainly for their own needs, although with the increasing market interest we already have larger plots with this crop. The largest of these is 2.5 decares of beans.”

In order to expose its soul, the Smilyan beans needs two things only – some mint and melted butter, which is added at the last moment. If you don't believe this, simply visit the holiday in the village of Smilyan to taste the virtuoso beans soup, and if you are lucky, you will also learn other secrets about how to prepare this most emblematic Bulgarian dish.

English Rossitsa Petcova