Chiprovtsi Celebrations 4-6 September 2010

Chiprovtsi Municipality and Mayor Zaharin Zamfirov invite you to attend this weekend’s Celebration of the city of Chiprovtsi

All Weekend: Traditional art exhibition from Chiprovtsi, Chuprene, Berkovitsa, and Giorgi Damyanovo Municipalities [Exhibition/Sale runs until the 6^th, See photos below].

Saturday:

Registration for “Three Chuki-2010” mountain bike race; cash prizes awarded to top finishers. See blog entry for more info: http://bikingbulgaria.wordpress.com/2010/08/23/bike-rally-“tri-chuki”-2010/

13:00--Public meeting to discuss local development of Leadership Action Group

Obshtina, Chiprovtsi

17:30--Opening of new Tourist Information Center; Exhibition “Man and Mountain” Presented by Chiprovtsi Historical Museum; Symposium of paintings, graphics, and carvings by the Society of Artists TENETS-Montana

Cultural Center "Peter Bogdan - 1909"

18:30--Youth fashion show of eco-friendly outfits created from recycled material

Cultural Center "Peter Bogdan - 1909"

Concerts by: Brass Orchestra Sciences, Montana,Youth Brass Band, Varshets, Dance Group in ODK, Montana, Vocal Group in ODK, Montana,Vocal Formation Torlashki chants

Chiprovtsi Center Square

SUNDAY:

10:30--“Three Chuki-2010” mountain bike race begins, award ceremony to follow at Gushovski Monastery at 15:30. Technical guidance and number distribution begins at 8:30

Race Map:

20:00--Concert: Rajko Kirilov http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=264sIK6EVAw&feature=related

Gushovski Monastery

Monday: Gushovski Monastery Celebration

9:00-?

Pictures of celebration from prior years

Gushovski Monastery was built in the 17^th century and destroyed during the 1688 Chiprovtsi Uprising. Near the ruins, rows of traditional stone hearths for bread making, a stone drinking spring, a stage, and other things have been built for visitors. The celebration also marks the anniversary of the 1688 Chiprovtsi Uprising against the Ottomans. The Uprising and the intellectual awakening that preceded it are thought to be the beginning of the resurgence of Bulgarian identity and national resistance.

Examples from the Traditional Art Expo:

All items are for sale. In addition to traditional carpets, metal work, and carvings, there are some incredible pieces created from carpet weaving. The girl and old couple depicted below were weaved by hand on a traditional loom. For perspective on the amount of work that goes into this, it takes one month, 8 hours of day of work for a woman to complete a basic carpet. The bottom carpet is my favorite. The threads of the trunk and branches weave in and out of the carpet.