The Festival of the Folk Costume in Zheravna is an annual festival which celebrates traditional Bulgarian culture. Attendees must wear traditional attire, Bulgarian or other, with many wearing authentic costumes, often over 100 years old and passed down several generations. It is hosted on Dobromeritsa, a scenic pine forest situated atop a hill at the foot of the Balkan mountains.

The festival does not permit phones, cameras and other modern comforts, providing a much-needed break from the mundane of 21st century living. 

This year’s edition celebrated 150 years from the April Uprising against Ottoman rule, which was commemorated by the lighting of candles at the opening ceremony, and on Saturday night at the lighting of the festival fire.

As Hristo Dimitrov, the creator of the festival, said, it is one thing to live in Bulgaria, it is another to feel Bulgarian: at Zheravna, the richness of Bulgarian heritage, the kindness of its people and hope for the country’s future are tangible like nowhere else. 

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It was a dream of mine and a true honour to be one of the 15-member team of photographers this year, being the youngest and never having attended the festival before. I am incredibly grateful to Vladimira Velinova for the opportunity to capture the magic of the festival, the organisers from Bulgare National Folk Ensemble, my fellow photographers, and the festival-goers who trusted me to photograph them.