REMEMBRANCE IN TIME - Index of

Mariya ZHELYAZKOVA: Celebrations And Rituals of the Students … 345
In 1986, students from the Faculty of History launched a torchlight procession to
celebrate the date March 3 - Bulgaria's Liberation. 20 The next year it included all students
from the local university. Three rays: "Bulgarian revolutionaries", “Fighters for Spiritual
Freedom “and "Brothers liberators" marched downtown. The three rays gathered in front
of the Regional History Museum and the procession ended with a solemn meeting. 21
At the initiative of local university students began to organise the spring holidays. For
the first time, together with teachers’ help in 1968, students performed a spring ball,
which presented plays of the student theater group 22 . In 1973 the first spring carnival took
place inspired by the idea of the students in Arts. It was dedicated to the law of Khan
Krum. The competitions "Miss and Mister Carnival, the contest for the best dancing
couple, as well as the contest for the most original Carnival costumes also contributed to
the good mood during the carnival." 23 In subsequent years, students from Sofia University
took part in the carnival. 24
Among the student holidays that left unforgettable memories, was the graduation ball.
The beginning of tradition which has lasted up to nowadays started in 1967, when the
first class, taught in three specialties, graduated then the University.
Conclusions
Festive- ritual system of VTU was not limited to those holidays here, but they gave rise
to make some basic conclusions. The facts showed that students' holidays in the
University were organised over a set of government rules. This was manifested itself in
solemn assemblies, which were official guests party and state leaders from local and
national level, presentation of greetings in the spirit of recent decisions of the Communist
Party and Dimitrov Young Communist League, the student oath of allegiance to the Party
and the Motherland and others. Student youth managed to break the bureaucratic nature
of the imposed festive- ritual system, adding new elements such as balls and spring
carnivals, torchlight processions, football matches between teachers and students. Thus,
young people brought many positive emotions and pleasant experiences in the public
holidays designated by the communist regime. Creating traditions inherited by today's
students, in which the joint celebration of students and teachers, was dominated by
youthful urge for more spontaneity, variety and fun.
Notes
1. Its contemporary name the University of Veliko Tarnovo received in 1990.
2. DKMS v resolyutzii i resheniya (1968- 1977). Volume 4, izdatelstvo “Narodna
mladezh”, C, 1978, 127-128.
3. DA-V. Tarnovo, f. 1178, op. 2, pp. 132-133.
4. Programa za ritualite i traditziite v University of Veliko Tarnovo St. Cyril and
Methodius- Sluzheben arhiv na University of Veliko Tarnovo St. Cyril and
Methodius.
5. http://news.bpost.bg/story-read- 15506.php
6. DKMS v rsolyutzii i resheniya…, 127-128.
7. Popova, D. Letopis na University of Veliko Tarnovo St. Cyril and Methodius (1963-
1983 г.) – Sluzheben arhiv na University of Veliko Tarnovo St. Cyril and Methodius.