REMEMBRANCE IN TIME - Index of

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Remembrance in Time
An attempt to regulate the holiday calendar of the students from University of Veliko
Tarnovo was made in 1973 when the Rector's Council discussed a draft document entitled
Academic socialist ritual and symbolism of the local university. The same was returned to
the compilers for some adjustments and later a programme of rituals and traditions in the
University Cyril and Methodius was elaborated and approved. 3 It says that "the rituals
and traditions are very important for the communist education of students in higher
education" and that "the new academic traditions and rituals in accordance with the
traditions of our people and the modern requirements of a socialist society cooperate to
shape the mind, behavior , self-confidence and national pride of the young student. "It
was also emphasized that they "should be considered an integral connection with the
learning process, the total range of activities aimed at achieving greater efficiency in the
ideological and political education of students." This programme established as rituals
and traditions the celebration of the following major events:
"1. Adoption of freshmen;
2. Opening of the school year;
3. Brigade report to the Communist Party;
4. Organizing celebrations of students - December 8;
5. Welcoming the spring;
6. Distribution of students – graduates;
7. Taking the oath of students;
8. Patronal feast celebration of the university - May 24;
9. Summer Opening of the brigade. " 4
The most loved and anticipated, by the academic youth, festival is on December 8. The
beginning of the celebrations of the students’ holiday in Bulgaria began in 1903. The
Academic Council of Sofia University decided in 1902 to the day on which the Bulgarian
Orthodox Church honors St. Kliment Ohridski enlightening - 25 November, new style 8
December. 5 After 1944 this tradition interrupted for 18 years, and the International Day
of Student Solidarity was observed (November 17). The reopening of the celebration of
the Bulgarian Students’ Holiday in 1962 gave the opportunity to the established a year
later the Higher Educational Institute "Cyril and Methodius", grew in 1971 as University
"Cyril and Methodius", to include in its annual holiday calendar.
The scenario of this holiday, according to the decisions of the leadership of Dimitrov
Young Communist League in 1969, was as follows: "The celebration of the December 8
is the continuation of the progressive traditions of Bulgarian Common Students' Union
(BONSS). It was organised under the slogan "Always faithful to the party" ... Dimitrov
Young Communist League (DKMS) Committees organized the holiday in cooperation
with the academic councils of universities under the leadership of the university
committees under the supervision of the Bulgarian Communist Party. In conducting the
festival it was of importance the following to preserve and become a tradition: the
meetings of students with members of the Political Department (the so called Political
bureau) and the secretary of the Bulgarian Communist Party Central Committee and other
state and party leaders, major celebrations in the institutions themselves, organising
exhibitions of students' scientific creativity, presenting wreath to the Georgi Dimitrov
Mausoleum, Common Grave, monuments, plaques, etc.; Komsomol checks and beams;
student balls.". 6