24 May in Bulgaria
At a glance
| Date | 24 May each year, new style |
|---|---|
| Also called | Day of the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius, of the Bulgarian alphabet, education and culture and of the Slavonic literature |
| Where | Bulgaria |
| Bulgarian name | Ден на българската просвета и култура и на славянската писменост |
| Public holiday | Yes, since 1990 |
Source: Day of Slavonic Alphabet, Bulgarian Enlightenment and Culture1
The holiday today
The holiday is observed in Bulgaria every year on 24 May, the date in the new style. It is an official public holiday, a status it has held since 1990. Its name was changed in 2020 to honour the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius, the Bulgarian alphabet, education and culture, and Slavonic literature. The occasion brings these parts of Bulgarian cultural life together under one annual commemoration.1
A commemoration begins
The first commemoration of the date was held in Plovdiv on 11 May 1851, old style. It was initiated by Nayden Gerov. The account links the occasion to the Bulgarian Revival entering its decisive phase during an age of romantic nationalism. An Armenian traveller had earlier recorded visiting a “celebration of the Bulgarian script” in Shumen on 22 May 1803, though this predates the 1851 commemoration.1
Saints and script
Cyril and Methodius had been saints since the 9th century, and their saint’s day had been commemorated in Bulgaria since the 12th century. The 24 May observance is therefore set within a longer history of honouring the brothers. It also celebrates the Bulgarian alphabet and Slavonic writing and culture. Similar days devoted to Slavic writing and culture are observed in North Macedonia, Russia and Serbia.1
Sources
Facts checked 13 October 2026. Prepared by InvestBulgaria for general information.
