# Dear Bulgaria

The Anthem of the People's Republic of Bulgaria, also unofficially known as "Dear Bulgaria", was the national anthem of Bulgaria from 1951 until 1964.

## History

On 20 February 1949, a contest for the new anthem of the People's Republic of Bulgaria was announced. According to the requirements of the organizers, it should in a simple, tight and exciting form reflect the most characteristic of the historical development of the Bulgarian people. The text should be simple, clear and smooth, "as inspirational, as wise as poetic as it is political." In its content, the heroic struggles of the Bulgarian people for liberation, the majestic and unexpected glories of Hristo Botev and Vasil Levski, as well as the other fighters fallen for freedom, have to be emphasized. It is explicitly emphasized that reflection was to find the Ninth of September as the beginning of a new era. Reflection requirements are to show "the love of the people to the homeland, the praise of its beauty, its determination to fight, to work affectionately for its glory and prosperity, its readiness for all sacrifices for freedom and independence, and friendship with the Soviet Union."
In March 1949, a special commission reviewed the submitted proposals. Thirty-one proposals were picked to be published in the periodic press for a nationwide discussion. The proposals was published on 23 March 1949. Among the authors were Elisaveta Bagryana, Mladen Isaev, Ivan Rudnykov, Nikolay Marangozov, Aleksandar Gerov, Mihail Lakatnik. According to the commission, none of these poems meet all the requirements, which is why the poets Bagryana, Isaev and Nikola Furnadzhiev were assigned to compose a final version. The work proceeded until 18 May 1950, when the text was finally ready and approved by the Council of Ministers. The next day, the Committee on Science, Art and Culture announced a contest for the creation of a melody. On 30 December 1950, the Presidium of the National Assembly issued Decree No. 688, which came into force on 1 January 1951, which affirmed the song as the new anthem of the People's Republic of Bulgaria.
The lyrics of the 1951 anthem closely resembled the State Anthem of the Soviet Union, and is entirely written according to the canons of Stalin's times. The rejection of the cult of personality of Stalin and attempts to democratize the Soviet system in the early 1960s led to the discourse of the replacement of the anthem. This prompted poet Georgi Dzhagarov to begin an effort to replace the anthem. His polemic reached Todor Zhivkov, leader of the People's Republic of Bulgaria, and soon, Zhivkov held a dialog with Dzagarov about the replacement of the anthem. On 29 March 1962, the Council of Ministers of Bulgaria announced a competition for writing of texts and music, with the deadline for the submission of the project on 1 May 1963. This resulted in "Bǎlgarijo mila" being relinquished, and "Mila Rodino" was subsequently affirmed as the new national anthem on 8 September 1964.

## Lyrics

| Bulgarian original | Romanization of Bulgarian | English translation |
| Българийо мила, земя на герои, Неспирен и мощен е твоят възход. Да крепне навеки съюзът ни боен С могъщия братски съветски народ! Припев: Слава, Републико наша свободна! 𝄆 Страж на мира непреклонно бъди! Враг ли нападне земята ни родна, В бой до победа ни смело води! 𝄇 Великото слънце на Ленин и Сталин, С лъчите си нашия път освети. Димитров за подвиг сърцата запали, В борбата и в мирния труд ни сплоти. Припев Строим ний заводи, разкриваме мини, Нивята широки задружно орем. За нашата скъпа, прекрасна родина Готови сме труд и живот да дадем! Припев | Bǎlgarijo mila, zemja na geroi, Nespiren i mošten e tvojat vǎzhod. Da krepne naveki sǎjuzǎt ni boen S mogǎštija bratski sǎvetski narod. Pripev: Slava, Republiko naša svobodna! 𝄆 Straž na mira nepreklonno bǎdi! Vrag li napadne zemjata ni rodna, V boj do pobeda ni smelo vodi! 𝄇 Velikoto slǎnce na Lenin i Stalin, S lǎčite si našija pǎt osveti. Dimitrov za podvig sǎrcata zapali, V borbata i mirnija trud ni sploti. Pripev Stroim ni zavodi, razkrivame mini, Nivjata široki zadružno orem. Za našata skǎpa, prekrasna rodina Gotovi sme trud i život da dadem. Pripev | Bulgaria, dear, you’re the land of our heroes! Incessant and mighty has surged your ascent. The link with our brothers shall grow ever stronger; The firm, soldier’s link with the Soviet land! Chorus: Hail, our Republic, we sing to your glory! May you fore’er be a true shield of peace! But should an enemy storm o’er the country, Lead us to battle, to glorious feats! How great is the sun of our Lenin and Stalin, Whose unequalled splendour throws light on our way! The hearts which Dimitrov has fired are flaming In struggle and work with so dazzling a ray! Chorus We’re digging our mines, we are working and building, We’re tilling in common the large tract of soil. Our country, our beautiful country thus serving With all that we have, with our lives and our toil. Chorus |

## Similarity to the anthem of the Soviet Union

The lyrics of the anthem was entirely written according to the music of Stalin's times. The melody and the lyrics of the anthem were heavily influenced by the State Anthem of the Soviet Union. A brief comparison of the translation of both of the anthem proves this :
| Anthem of the Soviet Union | Balgariyo Mila |
| Sing to our Motherland, free and undying, Bulwark of peoples in brotherhood strong! Flag of the Soviets, Flag of the people, From victory to victory lead us on! | Hail, our Republic, we sing to your glory! May you forever be a true shield of peace! But should an enemy storm o’er the country, Lead us to battle, to glorious feats! |
| Through tempests the shadows of freedom have cheered us, Along the new path where great Lenin did lead, Be true to the people, thus Stalin has reared us, Inspired us to labor and valorus deed. | How great is the sun of our Lenin and Stalin, Whose unequalled splendour throws light on our way! The hearts which Dimitrov has fired are flaming In struggle and work with so dazzling a ray! |

## Orchestral sheet music of the anthem

* First page
* Second page