SOFIA – June 2, 2025 – Bulgaria will pause at precisely noon today to commemorate one of its most revered national figures, Hristo Botev, and all those who laid down their lives in the struggle for the country’s freedom. As part of the annual observance, sirens will sound across the country for two minutes in a solemn tribute to Bulgaria’s heroes.
This national tradition, rooted in a Council of Ministers decision No. 211 dated May 31, 1993, has become an integral part of Bulgaria’s calendar of remembrance.
Every year on June 2, Bulgarians mark the Day of Botev and Those Who Died for the Freedom and Independence of Bulgaria, honouring the legacy of those who paid the ultimate price in the name of liberty.
At exactly 12:00, the acoustic warning system will activate a two-minute continuous siren wail. The signal, while typically associated with emergencies or air danger, takes on a symbolic meaning on this day — a call to remember, reflect, and respect the sacrifices made throughout the nation’s turbulent history.
The siren activation is carried out in accordance with Article 34 of the Regulation governing the operation of Bulgaria’s National System for Early Warning and Notification.
The regulation, adopted under Decree No. 48 by the Council of Ministers on March 1, 2012, and published in the State Gazette later that month, outlines procedures for alerting the population in times of disaster or military threat.
However, it also makes special provisions for commemorative use on June 2, reflecting the day’s unique national significance. The regulation was last amended in the State Gazette No. 65 on August 6, 2021.
The tradition of the sirens, though brief, is deeply moving. Streets and workplaces across the country typically come to a halt as people stand in silence. Cars stop, pedestrians bow their heads, and an atmosphere of shared remembrance unites the country in a powerful collective moment.
Hristo Botev, born in 1848, was a revolutionary, poet, and national hero whose life and writings left a lasting imprint on Bulgaria’s cultural and political identity.
He was killed in 1876 during the April Uprising against Ottoman rule while leading a group of rebels into battle — a symbolic figure whose sacrifice has come to embody the spirit of Bulgarian independence.
As Bulgarians across the nation prepare for this annual pause, schools, institutions, and public broadcasters will also take part in commemorations.
Tributes will be paid not only to Botev but also to all known and unknown patriots who gave their lives in the long and painful journey toward Bulgarian sovereignty.
June 2 remains one of Bulgaria’s most poignant days of remembrance — a day where silence, carried on the wail of sirens, speaks volumes.