Day of Hristo Botev and all who died for Bulgaria’s independence

The day of Botev and all who died for Bulgaria’s liberation was marked for the first time in 1884 in Vratza and Plovdiv. It has been officially celebrated since 1901, when some of Botev compatriots, who survived, witnessed an official ceremony, held on the Vola summit (the place where the famous revolutionary was killed). Such a ceremony is traditionally held every year at that place. Hristo Botev – one of Bulgaria’s greatest revolutionaries and poets, was born on December 25 1847 (January 6, new style) in the town of Kalofer, in the family of the teacher Botyo Petkov and Ivanka Boteva. He studied in Karlovo for some time, and then went back to his hometown, where he continued studying, taught by his father. In 1863, he graduated the school in Kalofer. In October the same year, he went to Russia and became a student in the Second Odessa High School, but was expelled from it in 1865. He was a teacher in a small Besarab village for some time, and in 1867 returned to Kalofer and started preaching against the Turks. Soon afterwards, he left Kalofer for good. In October 1867, he was already living in Romania. In 1872, he was arrested for conspiracy and revolutionary activities and was sent to prison. He was released, following the interceding of Levski and Karavelov. He started working as printer, and later became collaborator and co- editor of the revolutionary magazine, issued by Karavelov. This was the beginning of his active career as a journalist. In May 1876, when the news of the April Uprising came, Botev started organizing his cheta (group). He, together with some of his followers, went on board of the Radetzki ship and on May 17 forced the captain to stop on the Bulgarian shore. On May 20 1876 (June 2) the last and most serious fight took place, in which Botev found his death.