The annual Week of Traditional Crafts has officially opened at the Regional Ethnographic Museum in Plovdiv, bringing together artisans, cultural practitioners, and guests from Bulgaria and abroad in a celebration of living heritage, craftsmanship, and tradition.

The forum was inaugurated by the museum’s director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Angel Yankov, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Moldova to Bulgaria H.E. Emil Jacota, and Kiro Kolikov, doyen of Plovdiv’s master craftsmen. In keeping with tradition, the opening began with a Bulgarian horo dance, accompanied by musicians Vladimir Vladimirov (tambura) and Hristo Georgiev (gadulka) from the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts “Prof. Asen Diamandiev” in Plovdiv.

This year’s edition places a special focus on embroidery and serves as a cultural bridge between Bulgaria and Moldova. Special guests include the craftswomen of “Bessarabian Sedyanka,” who present traditional Moldovan shirts with altitsa—a distinctive embroidered element of the region’s intangible cultural heritage known for its rich symbolism and intricate craftsmanship.

As part of the programme, the exhibition “The Traditional Shirt with Altitsa in the Republic of Moldova” was officially opened. The display reveals the meanings, symbols, and coded messages embedded in traditional women’s garments and will remain open to visitors at the museum for the next month.

The event was attended by Deputy Mayor of Plovdiv Plamen Panov, Ambassador Emil Jacota, Honorary Consuls of Moldova in Plovdiv and Burgas Veselin Chipev and Zhenya Atanasova, as well as the Consul General of the Republic of Turkey in Plovdiv Emre Manav and Vice Consul Gyulsevim Sheremet.

The evening continued with a fashion show by designer Olympia Lupo, who presented a collection of contemporary dresses inspired by Bulgarian embroidery and the symbolism of the kanatitsa motif. The showcase highlighted how traditional patterns can be reinterpreted in modern design while preserving their cultural essence.

The festive atmosphere was enriched by performances from the Plovdiv band “Dobur Den” and the folk ensemble “Kuklitsi” from the Municipal Children’s Complex – Plovdiv.

The Week of Traditional Crafts will continue with demonstrations, workshops, and meetings with master artisans, offering visitors the opportunity to experience the richness of traditional crafts and the cultural connections between nations.