June 1 is being celebrated across Bulgaria as International Children's Day, a holiday dedicated to the youngest members of society and marked by dozens of events, concerts, educational initiatives, and cultural activities.
The origins of the celebration date back more than a century. The idea emerged in 1925 following the World Conference on Children's Health in Geneva. That same year, the Chinese Consul General in San Francisco organized a gathering for orphaned Chinese children during the traditional Dragon Boat Festival. Over time, similar initiatives gained international support, and in 1949 June 1 was officially proclaimed International Children's Day. The holiday was celebrated simultaneously in 51 countries for the first time in 1950.
This year's program in Sofia offers a wide range of activities for children and families. The Sofia Zoo is once again opening its doors free of charge to all visitors under the age of 18. The initiative is designed to encourage children to spend time in nature and learn more about the animal world, while adult visitors will enter with regular admission tickets.
The Sofia Inspectorate has prepared a special demonstration for children from Kindergarten No. 122 "Sineva" in the Lyulin district. Young visitors will be able to explore a garbage truck, street-cleaning machinery, and a water tanker, learning firsthand how the city maintains cleanliness and public spaces.
