Happy Children's Day!

Good Morning and Happy Children's Day! You might be 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 50, 60, but you do celebrate. Because it's one of those days, when you just wake up and smile (though I've got an exam in a couple of hours and in Cardiff is raining as if it will not gonna rain ever again). Not only that - your parents will be your parents forever and ever, thus you'll always be their child. So, as I said no matter how old or young are, you still have to recognize the presence of the children's day.

The interesting fact surrounding this day is that it has been established in the former Communist bloc (a.k.a Russia, Bulgaria, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania,Yugoslavia, Albania, and East Germany - yes, even this part of Germany had been part of the so called Eastern bloc; though we'll not go into details about that now). And most probably that's the reason why I know about the existence of this day - as I've been born in Bulgaria, I used to celebrate it. And yes, the people are celebrating it even today with the same feeling of joy and excitement. NOTE: There is Universal Children's Day on the 20th November, adopted by the United Nations - Australia, Canada, etc. are celebrating then!


What does this day reminds me of? First sun - always when I've been celebrating Children's Day it's been sunny - no exception. Then - a walk to town or in the park with my parents, massive amounts of ice-cream/popcorn/sweet pink cotton (the one they sell at the circus)/big colored balloons and of course, carousels. To be honest, if you're a kid that's all what you need. I still remember that when I was 7 years old, an absolute feast for me was to have a few 300gr bags of crisps, 2L. Coke, Haribo jellies and Milka chocolate with nuts and raisins - simple, but believe me it means a lot!

Now, when I'm obviously not 7, or even 10, there are a few things I always do on this day. I listen to Bulgarian songs from children movies and if I have the time, watch a movie. Most of you, won't understand the plot, but at least you can see what do the countries in the former Soviet bloc looked like in the 1960's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbJlquRHEhQ "S detsta na more" ("With the Children at the Seaside")

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IX-o97L8YY "Voinata na Taralejite" ("Hedgehogs War") - I particularly love that one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URK6uAgvMXQ&feature=related "Vasko Da Gama ot selo Rupcha" ("Vasko da Gama from Rupcha village")

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPU1o0lLOZE&feature=related "Oranjeva pesen" ("Orange song")

Fortunately, I have been born long after all those songs and movies were really popular. I'm saying fortunately, because I've been born after the communistic era and didn't have the "chance" to experience those days' reality. And maybe those songs are one of the few valuable things left from that era...

So, again,  Happy Children's Day!

P.S. Just try and smile at least once today!