Bulgarialaiset

Bulgarialaiset, known in English as Bulgarians, are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to the Balkan Peninsula. Their population is approximately 10.5 million, with the majority residing in the Republic of Bulgaria. Significant diaspora communities exist in countries such as Turkey, Greece, the United States, Germany, and Canada, reflecting historic migration patterns.

The Bulgars, a Turkic people, arrived in the region during the 6th–7th centuries and founded Old Great Bulgaria before migrating toward the Danubian area. Their integration with South Slavic settlers formed the basis of the medieval Bulgarian state established in 681 AD. Over the centuries, Bulgarian cultural identity evolved through successive empires, including the Byzantine, Ottoman, and Soviet periods, culminating in the modern Republic of Bulgaria in 1990 after the fall of communism.

Bulgarian language belongs to the South Slavic subgroup of the Slavic languages, written primarily in the Cyrillic script. The national religion is Eastern Orthodox Christianity, with the Bulgarian Orthodox Church playing a central cultural role. Bulgarian folklore, music, dance, and cuisine—characterized by dishes such as banitsa, kavarma, and shopska salad—reflect a blend of Slavic and Turkic traditions.

Notable Bulgarians include literary figures like Hristo Botev, political leaders Georgi Dimitrov and Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, and singer Maria Ilieva. The country has produced world‑class athletes in weightlifting, wrestling, and football. Contemporary bulgarialaiset engage actively in political, cultural, and economic life, contributing to regional stability and international collaboration.