1. This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication (communication) reflects the views only of the author and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of information contained therein. PROJECT The art - way of communication

3. One can often hear the phrase “How beautiful is nature in Bulgaria!” A country with enormous natural and biological diversity, concentrated in a small area and within short traveling distances. The almost rectangular territory of 111,000 sq. km. represent one of the most important geographical nodes. Language The official language in Bulgaria is Bulgarian. The Bulgarian language belongs to the group of the Slavic languages and it is very close to Russian, Macedonian and Serbo-Croatian languages Religion 90% of Bulgarian people are Orthodox Christians and celebrate the traditional Christian holidays - Christmas, Easter and the name days of Bulgarians named after Archangels, Saints and Martyrs. About 6% are Muslims. As a whole Bulgarian people are very obliging and hospitable

4. Since ancient times Bulgaria's lands have been inhabited by different tribes and people. Their mode of life and culture formed ours. Before the establishment of the first Bulgarian state there were Greeks, Illirians, Thracians living in our lands who had a highly developed culture. A special place occupy the Thracians with their culture who were the creators of an exceptionally interesting art. For a Bulgarian mode of life and culture can be spoken since the second half of the VІІ C. With their arrival on the Balkan peninsula the Slavonians and ancient Bulgarians made contacts with the local inhabitants and with the neighbor people. They inherited their high ancient culture which enters their live and it gains a new look. Mode of Life and Culture

5. Later a rich Bulgarian culture is created with original self-made characteristics based on the Slavonic one. The leading style is the folk one, talantedly preserved and developed by Bulgarian masters. Very little is known about the mode of life and culture of Bulgaria in the first century of our state. We can only judge by some ethnographic and archeological monuments. There are more artifacts from the period of the Renaissance. Bulgaria was under a Turkish yoke back then. In these hard for our people years the kingdom's glory and the western culture elements are erased. Only pure Bulgarian culture stays alive through the mode of life and the applicable art. Its roots are so deep that they stand against the trial of time

6. The folk masters were not influenced by the exuberance of the East. They were true to the functional importance of their works of art connected with the Bulgarian mode of life. The Bulgarian woman created her art by the unwritten laws of beauty. She embroidered motifs and forms left by mothers and grand- mothers and also enriched them according to her own aesthetically taste and needs. The mode of life and culture saved our nation from losing its identity.

7. The Rose is the symbol of Bulgaria and that is not accidental. The Kazanlak and Karlovo gorges are called the Valley of Roses. In here are the most appropriate for the development of the oil- bearing Rose conditions. The rose gathering was once a true ritual. Now it is a tourist attraction. During the rose gathering a Miss of the Roses contest is held in which every year young girls participate.The contest also has a rich cultural and tourist program and is visited by many foreign tourists that come from different parts of the world. They get acquainted with one of the oldest and traditional Bulgarian crafts - the rose boiling. It is a process of getting rose oil and rose water from the colors of roses by means of water distillation and special equipment. Bulgaria since the ХVІІ c. is one of the biggest exporters of rose oil in the world. And rose oil is one of the most important compositions for the perfumery production.

8. The Bulgarian national dress is an indivisible part of the Bulgarian mode of life and culture. It is Slavonian in its nature but it received elements from the clothing of the ancient Thracians and Bulgarians in its development. It is a piece of working clothes by its character but with its artistic decoration it gains a festive look. A main clothing in all forms is the white shirt which is long and has long sleeves. Upper clothes with different materials, forms and decorations were worn on it.

9. The folk dancings are choreographic pieces of art created in centuries. They are mainly danced in groups. They are played in a circle or in a chain. In the different ethnographic areas the people vary in style and performance.Usually they are played in a right direction with lots of leg movements. Most of the horos are accompanied by a singing or music.There are several types of horo according to their steps.

12. Konstantin Fotinov was born in the town of Samokov about the year 1800. The exact date of his birth is unknown. Samokov used to be a town with flourishing business and culture. All the care for the education and upbringing of Fotinov were taken by his grandmother Fota on his father’s side – one of the few well-known women in Bulgaria – intelligent and ambitious. She opened his mind. She was a quiet person, studying hard. As a nun she went to Russia, taking the young Konstantin with her. When she returned to Samokov she founded a cloister for women to disseminate knowledge and spiritual discipline. Konstantin grew up under the care of his grandmother Fota. His relation to her was so close, that he took over her name as surname - Fotinov. In 1828 Fotinov opened the first private school in Smirna to teach Bulgarians and Greek in Christian religion, calligraphy and music. He became a famous teacher and connoisseur of church songs. He saw how the Turks, Greek, Armenians and Jews had their own papers and magazines, but in Bulgaria there were just a few booklets for children. His love to his homeland and patriotic ambition inspired him to publish the first Bulgarian magazine “Lyuboslovie” with articles in history, geography, mathematics and a lot of pictures. Fotinov made the readers familiar with the steam ship, balloon, railway, pipeline, explained the structure of the brain and gave instructions in hygiene. The magazine ”Lyuboslovie” was a rare encyclopaedia “looking for the common benefit for everyone – rich and poor, old, young, etc”.

13. 1895 – 1896 – „Konstantin Fotinov” Primary School was established; 1909 – VІth Boys’ Primary School „April 20th”; 1910 – 1913 – the new (current) building was constructed; 1920 – Parents – Teachers Association was set up, headed by Ivan Maleev; 1922 – the school library was established; 1922 – 1923 – The „Konstantin Fotinov” Primary School and the 6th Boys’ Primary School merged into the VІth Public Primary School „Konstantin Fotinov”; 1923 – an eloquent reading course was initiated in the school with tutor – Vyara Pushkarova; 1924 – lectures of eloquent artistic reading were delivered by Sava Ognianov, artist from the National Theatre; 1934 – the third floor of the building was constructed; 1956 – VІth Public Primary School „Konstantin Fotinov” was renamed into the 46th Primary School ; 1967 – the school was awarded with the order „Cyril & Methodius” – ІІnd degree; 1968 1978 – the building of the school was declared an architectural monument 1996 – Extended Choreography Training was introduced at the 46th Primary School by the Director – Todorka Kovacheva) which has been developed until now.

14. Already 17 years gala concerts have been arranged to commemorate the day of the Bulgarian alphabet and culture – May 24th, when the pupils of our school demonstrate their talents and artistic skills. - An Open Day is held each year at our school - Exhibitions, literature and music contests, sports festivities and contests are arranged - Olympic contests are held in the various academic subjects, in the International Contest „European Kangaroo” - School Paper – Lyuboslovie Today; School Paper 46th PRIMARY SCHOOL “KONSTANTIN FOTINOV” Traditions and achievements

15. AWARDS: 2001 – „Silver Lyre” – by the Union of Musicians and Dancers 2001 – Golden Bandge – „Mati Bolgaria” 2002 – First Place „Creative Youth” – Youth and Sports Committee Honours and Diplomas by: - The „Red Cross” ; - „Vazrazhdane” Regional Administration - Ministry of Education and Science; - Regional Inspectorate with the Ministry of Education and Science - Sofia; - Ministry of Culture;