Bulgaria - Culture and Etiquette Intisar Eidha Al tamimi BUS 207 –

Background about Bulgaria *Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey *Capital: Sofia *Population: people *Religions: Bulgarian Orthodox 82.6%, Muslim 12.2%, other Christian 1.2%, other 4%

Family Family is an integral part of Bulgarian culture which strongly influences how people behave and live their daily lives. Bulgarians appreciate family and respect it. It considers the fundamental social unit and much of society is based around it. Also, extended families are abounded in Bulgaria and we can see several generations still live under one roof. Generally, the relationship between family members is very strong and close. In addition, loyalty and commitment to family members is essential because it forms large networks of mutual assistance and support of its members.

History and Culture Bulgarians are extremely proud of their rich cultural heritage. Though Bulgaria strives to create a more modern society, Bulgarians place a high importance on tradition and their cultural heritage. This is obvious in everyday life in the form of festivities and traditional holidays. Also, stories, folklore and legends represent an essential part of their life and Bulgarians circulate them through the generations. Furthermore, they are fond of poetic songs, rites, music, dance, costumes and jewelry.

Meeting and Greeting Generally, Bulgaria is a formal society and their greetings are also formal and reserved. There are several things that you have to do in greeting like firm handshake, direct eye contact and the appropriate greeting for the time of day. The proper way to address people is by using their titles (if you know them) or with "Gospodin“ which means Mr or "Gospozha“ (Mrs) followed by the family name. Addressing people by first name is only appropriate for friends and family.

Dining Etiquette There are some rules and customs that should be followed when you get invited to a dinner in Bulgaria. 1- You should always wait to be shown your seat at the table. 2- It is also good to wait for the hostess to give the green light before starting to eat. 3- Insistence on the eldest person to start eating is showing your respect and propriety even if you are the guest of honor. 4- Your hands should be visible at all times but do not rest your elbows on the table. 5- Admiration and appreciation for food is shown if you eat a lot, so on the initial serving take little to allow you a second serving. 6- It's a custom always to refill the guests' glasses, so if you don't want to have anymore just leave a mouthful at the bottom of your glass.

Exchange of gifts There are different occasions when Bulgarians exchange gifts such as Christmas, birthdays and when invited to someone's house. Even though gifts are very appreciated, the general rule when choosing a gift is that it is more about the thought than value, so it is better to bring something smaller as overly expensive gifts may cause the recipients’ embarrassment. A great way to show respect and appreciation when going to Bulgarians' home for dinner is to bring flowers for the hostess and a bottle of wine for the host. However, if taking flowers, avoid chrysanthemums, lilies or gladiolas as they are used at funerals. Gifts are usually opened right away.

Bulgarian Business Etiquette Business cards are exchanged on initial meetings, so it is better to add your academic qualifications on your card and translate it into Bulgarian language to amaze recipients. First meetings is as an introduction, so do not focus in business discussions and delay it to next meetings. Eye contact is important because it represents trust and sincerity. Business presentations should be realistic and include statistics. If possible try to present information visually. Expect business dealings to take a long time. An extensive system of rules and regulations results in a very bureaucratic society. Patience and good relationships are essential for successful business ventures in Bulgaria.

Do not do business with Bulgarians during the months of July and August. However, it is not uncommon to find Bulgarians working in the evenings and at weekends any other time of the year. Be aware that communication in business situations is more direct and succinct. Dress conservatively and formally as Bulgarian business culture respects and appreciates formality. Do not be afraid to use humor to ‘break the ice’ but be careful not to direct it at anyone in particular.

References: etiquette/bulgaria.html etiquette/bulgaria.html