Dear Bulgaria

**National anthem of  Bulgaria (formerly)**

The **Anthem of the Bulgarian People's Republic**, unofficially known as "**Dear Bulgaria**", was the national anthem of Bulgaria between 1951 and 1964, during its years as a communist satellite state of the Soviet Union. The lyrics were written by three authors Nikola Furnadžiev, Mladen Isaev, and Elisaveta Bagrjana, and it was set to music by three composers Georgi Dimitrov, Georgi Zlatev-Čerkin, and Svetoslav Obretenov—just a few days before this anthem was adopted.

## History

On 20 February 1949, a contest for a new anthem was announced. Authorities wanted a new anthem with appealing yet simple lyrics for it to be easily understood by everyone. The lyrics had to reflect the historical development of the people, and their struggles for freedom. In addition, because communist Bulgaria was a Soviet satellite state, the lyrics had to mention the Soviet Union in a good way, as well its its leaders Joseph Stalin and Vladimir Lenin.

In 23 March 1949, a special commission reviewed over 30 submitted proposals, and a nationwide discussion took place, which lasted for over a year. "Dear Bulgaria" was the only one that met all the requirements; therefore, it was approved by the Council of Ministers. On 19 May 1950, the Committee on Science, along with the Art and Culture, announced a contest for the creation of a melody. On 30 December 30 of that year, the Presidium of the National Assembly issued Decree No. 688, which came into force on New Year's Day 1951, which affirmed "Dear Bulgaria" as the new national anthem of the People's Republic of Bulgaria.

The lyrics to "Dear Bulgaria" closely resembled the State Anthem of the Soviet Union, particularly the second stanza—which mentions Lenin and Stalin, and the chorus. However, in the early 1960s, after the "Secret Speech" denouncing Stalin as part of Khrushchev's de-Stalinisation campaign was made, efforts were made to the replacement of the anthem. On 8 September 1964, "Dear Motherland" was adopted as the national anthem of Bulgaria.

## Lyrics

### Bulgarian original

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***

Μπυλγαριο μιλα, ζεμια να γεροϊ,
Νεσπιρεν ι μοσ̌τεν ε τβοιατ βυζχοδ.
Δα κρεπνε ναβεκι συιουζυτ νι μποεμ
Σ μογυσ̌τια μπρατσκι συνετσκι ναροδ!

**Πριπευ:**
Σλαβα, Ρεπουμπλικο νασ̌α σβομποδνα!
𝄆 Στραζ̌ να μιρα νεπρεκλοννο μπυδι!
Βραγ λι ναπαδνε ζεμιατα νι ροδνα,
Β μποι δο πομπεδα νι σμελο βοδι! 𝄇

Βελικοτο σλυντσε να Λενιν ι Σταλιν,
Σ λυτσ̌ιτε σι νασ̌ια πυτ οσβετι.
Διμιτροβ ζα ποδβιγ συρτσατα ζαπαλι,
Β μπορμπατα ι β μιρνια τρουδ νι σπλοτι.

***Πριπευ***

Στροϊμ νη ζαβοδι, ραζκριβαμε μινι,
Νιβιατα σ̌ιροκι ζαδρουζ̌νο ορεμ.
Ζα νασ̌ατα σκυπα, πρεκρασνα ροδινα
Γοτοβι σμε τρουδ ι ζ̌ινοτ δα δαδεμ!

***Πριπευ***

### English version

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 forever 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***

## Trivia

* Its lyrics are similar to that of the State Anthem of the Soviet Union.

## References

1. ↑ BULGARIA : Bulgaria National Anthem (1950-1964)
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Химнът на България през превратностите на времето. *socbg.com*.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 ИСТОРИЯ НА БЪЛГАРСКИЯ ХИМН
4. ↑ ТАЙНАТА ИСТОРИЯ НА ХИМНА НА НАРОДНА РЕПУБЛИКА БЪЛГАРИЯ