Karakachani festival in Sliven

Learn about the different cultures which make up Bulgaria at the fair Karakachans, held every year in Sliven "Karandila" in the mountains - for only two days in August. This traditional event is organized by the Federation of Cultural and Educational Societies Karakachan.

At the festival see traditional huts built on ethnicity and groups from Bulgaria and Greece showing Karakachan traditional songs, dances and customs. Around 25,000 Karakachans live in Bulgaria, between 6 and 7 thousand of them - in the region of Sliven. 20 are cultural and educational societies in the country.

Karakachans (gr. Σαρακατσάνος- sarakatsanos) were Greek- speaking nomadic shepherds who live mainly in the mountains Pindos, Greece and Eastern Stara Planina, Bulgaria. Karakachans have mostly Greek national consciousness. Part of living in Bulgaria consider themselves Bulgarians.

Karakachans speak an archaic dialect of Greek and Eastern Orthodox Christians.