May 2017

On 24 May 2017, Geotechmin OOD and Ellatzite-Med AD awarded the winners of the contest “Treasures from the Past - the Life and Work of People in My Homeland”. Vasil Goranov - an artist and a jury member, Stoyno Stoynov – Director of the Flotation Plant in the village of Mirkovo and M.Eng. Valentin Tsatsov – Director of the Mine Complex in the town of Etropole awarded 84 children nominated in three key categories: a drawing, an article and an interview.

The participants in the contest are 1st to 7th grade students from Srednogorie region and the town of Etropole. They have revealed the treasures from the past using the most natural way – through conversations with their grandmothers, grandfathers and other interesting people. By doing so, their artworks brought back to life the magic of their dearly loved homeland, stories about old crafts and trades that are no longer practiced - for example, the first brewery and the farriery, or other ones that still exist, such as rose oil production and ore mining. The students vivified old rituals and spells, cherished memories of festivities, customs and values, stories about Haidouks (rebels), famous musicians and entrepreneurs.

The customs and traditions in these regions will remain alive, because they are deeply rooted in people’s memory and each year they are revived and popularised. The Spring Мask Carnival dedicated to the first Sunday before Lent, folk costumes and embroidered haidouk shirts from Srednogorie region, incantations to rings are just a small part of the colorful mosaic of awarded artworks.

“Treasures from the Past” is part of Culture and National Identity Programme implemented by Ellatzite-Med and Geotechmin in the regions where they operate.