FACTS

Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey

Area (only Total) total: 110,910 sq km

Climate: temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers

Terrain: mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast

Population: 7,262,675 (July 2008 est.)

Main Language (only first): Bulgarian

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital (Name): Sofia

Capital (Time Difference): UTC+2

Independence: 3 March 1878 (as an autonomous principality within the Ottoman Empire); 22 September 1908 (complete independence from the Ottoman Empire)

National holiday: Liberation Day, 3 March (1878)

HOLIDAYS

January 1 New Year's Day

March 3 National Holiday (Liberation Day)

March / April * Easter Monday

May 1 Labour Day

May 6 St George's Day, Bulgarian Army Day

May 24 Education & Culture Day

September 6 Union Day

September 22 Independence Day

November 1 Day of the leaders of the Bulgarian National Revival

December 24 Christmas Eve

December 25 Christmas Day

December 26 2nd Day of Christmas

December 31 New Year's Eve

* Date Not Confirmed

Weekend Saturday, Sunday