Dear Bulgaria

Himn na Narodna Republika Balgariya

English: Anthem of the Bulgarian People's Republic
Химн на Народна Република България
National anthem of People's Republic of Bulgaria (1951-1964)
Also known as	Balgariyo mila (English: Dear Bulgaria)
Lyrics	Nikola Furnadzhiev Mladen Isaev Elisaveta Bagriana, May 18, 1950
Music	Georgi Dimitrov Georgi Zlatev-Cherkin Svetoslav Obretenov, December 30, 1950
Adopted	January 1, 1951
Relinquished	September 8, 1964

Anthem of the Bulgarian People's Republic (Template:Lang-bg), also unofficially known as Dear Bulgaria (Template:Lang-bg) was the national anthem of Bulgaria from 1951 until 1964.

History

On February 20, 1949, a contest for the new anthem of the Bulgarian People's Republic 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."

The new national anthem of the People's Republic of Bulgaria that was effective from January 1, 1951.

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 March 23, 1949. Among the authors were Elisaveta Bagriana, 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 May 18, 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 December 30, 1950, the Presidium of the National Assembly issued Decree No. 688, which came into force on January 1, 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 March 29, 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 May 1, 1963. This resulted in the "Balgariyo mila" anthem being relinquished, and Mila Rodino was affirmed as the new national anthem on September 8, 1964.

Lyrics

Cyrillic script	Latin script	IPA transcription	Singable English translation
First verse
Бъларио мила, земя на герои, неспирен и мощен е твоят възход. Да крепне навеки съюзът ни боен с могъщия братски съветски народ!	Bulgarijo mila, zemja na geroi, nespiren i mošten e tvojat vëzhod. Da krepne naveki sëjuzët ni boen s mogëštija bratski sëvetski narod.		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!
Refrain
Слава, Републико наша свободна! Страж на мира непреклонно бъди! Враг ли нападне земята ни родна, в бой до победа ни смело води!	Slava, Republiko naš svobodna! Straž na mira nepreklonno bëdi! Vrag li nabadne zemjata ni rodna. v boj do pobeda ni smelo vodi!		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!
Second verse
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.	Velikoto slënce na Lenin i Stalin, S lëčite si našija pët osveti. Dimitrov za podvig sërcata zapali, v borbata i mirnija trud ni sploti.		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!
Refrain
Слава, Републико наша свободна! Страж на мира непреклонно бъди! Враг ли нападне земята ни родна, в бой до победа ни смело води!	Slava, Republiko naš svobodna! Straž na mira nepreklonno bëdi! Vrag li nabadne zemjata ni rodna. v boj do pobeda ni smelo vodi!		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!
Third verse
Строим ний заводи, разкриваме мини, нивята широки задружно орем. За нашата скъпа, прекрасна родина готови сме труд и живот да дадем!	Stroim nij zavodi, raskrivame mini, nivjata široki zadružno orem. Za našata skëpa, prekrasna rodina gotovi sme trud i život da dadem.		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.
Refrain
Слава, Републико наша свободна! Страж на мира непреклонно бъди! Враг ли нападне земята ни родна, в бой до победа ни смело води!	Slava, Republiko naš svobodna! Straž na mira nepreklonno bëdi! Vrag li nabadne zemjata ni rodna. v boj do pobeda ni smelo vodi!		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!

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

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