Holidays are on the loose!!!

Drawing it on a calendar, I see that it was only less than two weeks ago when I cracked yet another chapter in world peace by dawning the Bird in my village (see my previous post). But before the fleeting thrill of one holiday could pass, another has come to claim it's glory. It's called Bairam. This is a religious one. And the muslims of Bulgaria are to claim its fame. So without haste, I too sailed the celebration-canoe. Bairam started Monday. But for me and most others in my region, the real anticipation started on Friday, embarking on a 4-day weekend! Since another volunteer was helping put together a concert at the cultural center in her village for the holiday, I decided to kick-off my joys from there. So Monday morning, after a brief exchange with a local grocer at site, a third volunteer and I headed for the SHOW. But as you will know, the mighty arm of friendship has a long reach. Alongside "narodni" (traditional) performances, the people of the community has ever so delightfully embraced America, in the form of FLO RIDA. Needless to say that we all enjoyed the show very much. The rest of the evening was uneventful. Bed.



Yesterday, the fun picked-up where it left off. I had lunch at the mayor's parent's house. After lunch there was tea at another house. Tea again at a hotel lobby. And for the fourth time and place, I deliberately ordered coffee. I figured, why cut short on this holiday myself. So I made banana bread yesterday morning. It proved to me a smooth operation later. When I went over to a friend's house for dinner later in the evening, they were buoyed by my gift. What makes a holiday right? Is the exorbitant gorging of treats? Is it receiving gift from someone just after first encounter? Or is it the feeling of belonging in one's holiday traditions? It's all of the above. The good thing is, I have two more days to go. But the great thing is that the fun-diggity doesn't have to end after that. It will start all over again in the next two weeks that won't stop until after the 1st!


But for now, I say "Bairaminuz Mubarek Olsun!"



Current favorite Bulgarian dish: Keufte - spiced meat wad cooked in oil.