ПРОГРАМИ
en de ru fr es sr gr al tr ro
Podcast in English
Share
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Bulgaria participates for the first time in the Festival of Christmas Trees in Indiana

Author:
10
Photo: Ralitsa Kolarova

The 2023 Festival of Trees in Indiana, USA, is displaying 78 Christmas trees decorated by some of the largest and most famous local associations, companies and organizations in the halls of the Historical Society Museum in the city. The funds collected at the annual charity event are distributed to those in need, and for the first time among the fir trees, there is a Bulgarian tree shining in all its splendor!


Bulgaria is represented thanks to the Bulgarians Abroad 681 Association - a relatively young organization, but with a number of participations and organization of various events, at which it presents Bulgarian history, culture, traditions, identity, self-awareness and the Bulgarian language.


What distinguishes the Bulgarian beauty at the Indiana Festival of Christmas trees?

"The most characteristic thing about our Christmas tree is that all the ornaments and toys are handmade because everyone can go and buy toys from the store, and our goal was to show what's typically Bulgarian", explains Ralitsa Kolarova from the Bulgarians Abroad 681 Association  in an interview with Radio Bulgaria. "We presented different toy-making techniques, there are toys with Bulgarian embroidery, crochet ornaments, paper appliqués, painted glass toys. We also decorated pine cones to make the tree look more natural, more real".

Christmas balls with Bulgarian embroidery brought from Bulgaria. Author: Katya Mihova
A short explanation is placed next to each tree displayed in the festival. "A Christmas tree decorated with Bulgarian handmade ornaments weaves a tapestry of tradition, community and festive charm under twinkling lights" - reads the Bulgarian description. 

What message does the Bulgarian Christmas tree bring in faraway Indiana?

"The main goal of the festival is charitable, but our goal as Bulgarians was to show the native Bulgarian traditions to the people in Indianapolis", says Ralitsa Kolarova. "Not everyone has heard of Bulgaria, but many people have now learned about Bulgarian embroidery and about Bulgaria thanks to this festival, which will last until January 6. So there is still time for many people to see it and find out about Bulgaria!"



For those wishing to visit the festival: Indiana History 

Photos: Ralitsa Kolarova

Translated and published by Rositsa Petkova

Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.
Radio Bulgaria Life BULGARIANS ABROAD    Bulgarian Abroad 681 Association Bulgarian embroidery Christmas tree Festival of Trees Indiana Indiana Historical Society Ralitsa Kolarova USA

Gallery

More from category

Balkan developments

Concert in North Macedonia turns into tragedy  A nightclub fire tragedy left North Macedonia in grief. A concert by the popular hip-hop group DNA, which was supposed to become a celebration in the small town of Kočani, turned into a true..

published on 3/21/25 11:20 AM
The first Bulgarian school in Edinburg

First Bulgarian school in Edinburgh brings together friends of Bulgaria on its tenth anniversary

Scotland is known as "The Land of the Brave" and recognized as the "Homeland of the Bagpipe". An instrument that carries the soul of Bulgarian folklore in its sound. According to unofficial data, the "brave" Bulgarians who are building a life in this..

published on 3/21/25 10:46 AM

Bulgaria takes part at the 13th edition of Global Money Week

Bulgaria participates in the Global Money Week initiative for yet another year. Global Money Week is an annual global awareness-raising campaign to ensure that young people, from an early age, are financially aware, and are gradually acquiring the..

published on 3/21/25 6:05 AM

WEATHER
Pick city: Sofía
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 19
Partly Cloudy
Min: 3 | Max: 13
Partly Cloudy
Min: 3 | Max: 12
Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 16
Cloudy
Min: 2 | Max: 17
Partly Cloudy
Min: 0 | Max: 20
Partly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 19
Partly Cloudy
Min: -2 | Max: 15
Partly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 16
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 19
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 0 | Max: 19
Cloudy
Min: 1 | Max: 17
Partly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 17
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 16
Cloudy
Min: 1 | Max: 18
Partly Cloudy
Min: -2 | Max: 17
Partly Cloudy
Min: 2 | Max: 17
Partly Cloudy
Min: 1 | Max: 19
Partly Cloudy
Min: 4 | Max: 18
Cloudy
Min: 2 | Max: 15
Partly Cloudy
Min: -3 | Max: 14
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 0 | Max: 17
Partly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 17
Partly Cloudy
Min: 0 | Max: 16
Partly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 18
Partly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 16
Partly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 16
BULGARIA IN PICTURES
Which world-famous Bulgarian artist designed QSL cards for Radio Bulgaria?
Yasen Gyuzelev
Theodore Ushev
Christo Javacheff - Christo
Ilia Peikov
Lika Yanko

BULGARIANS ABROAD

Български English Русский Deutsch Српски Français Ελληνικά Español Shqip Türkçe Română
MOST VIEWED

What was Sofia Airport renamed? - A radio club in India hosts a quiz on Bulgaria and the BNR

Bulgaria, as distant as a mirage, has become a beloved land for a man who has never set foot in this country. For nearly 50 years, Mr Jayanta Chakrabarti..

published on 3/20/25 12:50 PM

Bulgaria takes part at the 13th edition of Global Money Week

Bulgaria participates in the Global Money Week initiative for yet another year. Global Money Week is an annual global awareness-raising campaign to..

published on 3/21/25 6:05 AM

First Bulgarian school in Edinburgh brings together friends of Bulgaria on its tenth anniversary

Scotland is known as "The Land of the Brave" and recognized as the "Homeland of the Bagpipe". An instrument that carries the soul of Bulgarian folklore in..

published on 3/21/25 10:46 AM

english@bnr.bg

+359 2 9336 661

Общи условия за използване на сайта | Политика за поверителност | Политика за "бисквитки"