REMEMBRANCE IN TIME - Index of

CELEBRATIONS AND RITUALS OF THE
STUDENTS AT UNIVERSITY OF VELIKO
TARNOVO (1963-1989)
Mariya ZHELYAZKOVA 1
Abstract: The report is about the holidays and rituals in the University of Veliko Turnovo between
the years 1963-1989. It focuses the attention on the student holiday the holiday of the university,
the spring homecoming and the torch marching. The text follows the main points in organizing and
holding these events by the students in the old city. Its purpose is to distinguish those rituals-
created by the young people- which go beyond the obligatory frame of the official holiday– ritual
system and they are a tribute to the specifics of the student identity, its constants and varieties,
when celebrating the dates of the student’s holiday calendar during the years of Communist
regime in Bulgaria. Documents and materials from the archives of the University Museum, and
oral evidence collected by the author during the held half-standardized interviews whit the
University of Veliko Turnovo alumni.
Introduction
This release marks the beginning of an interesting study, especially for young people, a
topic related to holidays and ritual system in Veliko Tarnovo University (VTU) "St. Cyril
and Methodius " 1 in the years of socialism. It covers a wide range of problems, so the
emphasis in the layout is on some of the most important student holidays - December 8
and May 24.
Celebrations and rituals of the students
Holidays are an integral part of life for everyone. They are useful and necessary in order
to distract us at least for a moment from everyday concerns, to make us integrate into
certain traditions to unite us as people. In the years of the communist regime, the festive
system was entirely influenced by the dominant Marxist-Leninist ideology. The ruling party
attempts to regulate not only nationwide celebrations, but also those of different social
groups. In pursuance of decisions of the July Plenum of the Central Committee of the
Bulgarian Communist Party (BCP Central Committee) of 1968, the Central Committee of
the Dimitrov Communist Youth Union (CC Dimitrov Young Communist League), its VIth
Plenary Session of May 29, 1969, established a system for the symbols, rituals and traditions
in the Dimitrov Young Communist League and the Pioneer Organization, called
Septemvriyche. It included both the common for the entire Youth Union holidays and those
of the Bulgarian Students: Meeting the students in the universities, December 8- the
National Student Day, and a solemn graduation of the students. 2
1 St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria.