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Medieval fair near Bulgaria’s Shumen on the eve of Midsummer's Day

Photo: shumen.bg

The Madara Historical and Archaeological Reserve /15 km from the town of Shumen/ is hosting the National Medieval Fair "The Magical Madara". Its program includes demonstrations of weapons and clothing, training for children in archery, sword fencing. Workshops on metal plastics, coin cutting, pottery and woodworking are also open to all visitors.

The place and time of the fair were not chosen by accident. Madara has been inhabited for more than 5,000 years. The rocks and water here were sacred and magical to the ancient Thracians, Romans, Bulgarian pagans, Christians and Muslims. That is why the event on the eve of Enyovden (Midsummer's Day) - the holiday of the summer solstice (June 24), is considered a kind of pilgrimage to the past and the founding of the Bulgarian state.



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