Liberation Day is a national holiday in Bulgaria celebrated on March 3rd. It commemorates the signing of the Treaty of San Stefano in 1878, which ended the Russo-Turkish War and led to the liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman rule.

The holiday is celebrated with parades, concerts, and other festivities. People gather in towns and cities across the country to pay tribute to those who fought for Bulgaria's independence.

History of Liberation Day

Bulgaria was under Ottoman rule for nearly five centuries. In the 18th and 19th centuries, there were a number of uprisings against Ottoman rule, but they were all suppressed.

In 1877, Russia declared war on the Ottoman Empire. The war was fought on several fronts, including in Bulgaria. The Russian army was victorious, and the Treaty of San Stefano was signed on March 3rd, 1878.

The Treaty of San Stefano created an independent Bulgarian state. However, the Great Powers of Europe were concerned about the size of the new state, and they forced Russia to revise the treaty. The Treaty of Berlin, which was signed in July 1878, reduced the size of Bulgaria and divided it into two parts: the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia.

The Principality of Bulgaria was a constitutional monarchy. It had a parliament and a prince. The prince was elected by the National Assembly. The first prince of Bulgaria was Alexander of Battenberg.

Eastern Rumelia was an autonomous province of the Ottoman Empire. It had its own government and its own army. However, the Ottoman Empire still controlled the province's foreign policy.

In 1885, Eastern Rumelia united with the Principality of Bulgaria. The united Bulgaria was a monarchy. The first king of Bulgaria was Ferdinand I.

Bulgaria fought in the First World War, the Second World War, and the Cold War. In the First World War, Bulgaria fought on the side of the Central Powers. In the Second World War, Bulgaria fought on the side of the Axis Powers. In the Cold War, Bulgaria was a member of the Warsaw Pact.

Bulgaria became a democratic republic in 1989. It joined NATO in 2004 and the European Union in 2007.

Liberation Day is a public holiday in Bulgaria. It is a day to celebrate Bulgaria's independence and to remember those who fought for it.