Bulgaria showcases culture at international event in New Zealand

Bulgaria was represented at the International Cultural Gathering held at Avonside Girls' High School in Christchurch, New Zealand. The event brought together representatives from 25 countries, who presented their cultural heritage through short presentations and traditional costumes.

Among the participants was 14-year-old Chloe Dilly, a 10th-grade student at the school of Bulgarian descent. Her mother, Magdalena Dilly, spoke to BTA about her daughter’s participation in the event, CE Report quotes MOLDPRES.

“Chloe’s participation in the cultural gathering is another way for her to preserve and share her connection with Bulgaria, presenting her language, traditions and the cultural heritage of her ancestors to her classmates,” Magdalena Dilly said.

Chloe presented Bulgaria in both English and Bulgarian while wearing a traditional Bulgarian folk costume. In her speech, she spoke about the establishment of the Bulgarian state, the Cyrillic alphabet, rose oil and John Atanasoff, a Bulgarian-American scientist regarded as one of the creators of the first electronic digital computer.

During her presentation, Chloe said she was honored to wear the traditional Bulgarian costume, which is not only a beautiful piece of clothing but also an expression of her connection to her family, traditions and cultural heritage.

The cultural gathering at Avonside Girls' High School is part of the school’s efforts to showcase the richness and diversity of the cultures and backgrounds of students in Christchurch. The initiative aims to celebrate the school’s diverse cultural communities, promote greater understanding of students’ backgrounds and highlight the importance of cultural diversity.

Students originally from outside New Zealand were selected to participate and present aspects of their cultures to the school community. Each participant was free to choose which elements of their heritage and culture they wanted to showcase.

Chloe Dilly was born in Christchurch in 2012. Her dream is to visit Bulgaria one day and discover the country from which her family’s roots originate.

Bulgarian is the main language spoken at the Dilly family home. According to her mother, this helps Chloe maintain and develop her language skills in an environment where Bulgarian is used freely and authentically. She also maintains her connection with Bulgaria through her studies at the “Dr. Petar Beron” Bulgarian School in Sydney.

Bulgarian music, films, television programs and videos are also ways in which Chloe maintains her knowledge of the Bulgarian language.

Chloe represents several local organizations and plays the saxophone and cornet in two youth orchestras. Since the age of six, she has hosted the radio podcast “Chloe Dilley Seeking Talents!” on New Zealand’s Plains FM. Through the program, Chloe interviews people of different ages and backgrounds to learn more about their skills and talents. Some of her guests have also come from Bulgaria.

Photo: Avonside Girls' High School