Feature: Bulgaria celebrates National Army Day

Bulgarians marked Army Day on Wednesday with a variety of festive events throughout the country following a tradition established in 1880, shortly after the country's liberation from Ottoman rule.

A military parade, attended by the President Rosen Plevneliev, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, veterans and thousands of citizens, was held on Alexander Battenberg Square, the largest square in the capital of the Balkan country.

Speaking to the parade, Plevneliev said that by marking the National Army Day, Bulgarians bow before their ancestors who defended the right of the Bulgarian people for national self-determination.

The head of the state, who is also the commander-in-chief of the country's armed forces, said Bulgarian "glorious army" is a symbol of Bulgarian statehood and people love their army.

"When it is difficult, people rely on the army, and the army sides with the people," Plevneliev said.

An open day with free admission was organized at the National Museum of Military History where visitors could touch weapons that were used by the Bulgarian Army in the 20th century and those that are still in service.

Army cooks were also called upon to support the event: in a field kitchen, they made bean soup, a traditional dish for generations of Bulgarian soldiers, and handed plates to anyone who wanted to taste it.

"Mom, but there are only beans inside," muttered a disappointed 10-something-year-old boy who may not be able to eat this soup in the army because the military service in Bulgaria ceased to be compulsory since 2008. Endit