Snejana from Bulgaria

24May – The Day Of Slavonic Alphabet, Bulgarian Enlightenment and Culture
May 24 is the Day Of Slavonic Alphabet, Bulgarian Enlightenment and Culture.

This day has been celebrated for 158 years now – no other holiday was so long celebrated in Bulgarian late history.
Saints Cyril and Methodius were born in Thhessaloniki. In 855 Konstantin –Kiril-the Philosopher created the Cyrilic alphabet by some adjustment to the Greek alphabet for the necessity of Slavonic speech and then translated the liturgial books for the needs of Bulgarian Slavonic people at the region of Northwestern Masedonia. And in 862-863 he created the Glagolic alphabet and copied already translated books with the main purpose to give a common Christen expression of his mission in Velikomoravia.
The earliest information for marking the 11th of May a day of the Saint Apostles and Slavonic enlighteners Kiril and Methody dates back to XII century.
In 1892 was written the text of the common school hymn by Nikolay Mihaylovski. It is well known by every Bulgarian with its first verse:`Varvi Narode Vazrodeni (Go forward revived nation )`. The hymn received the name `Hymn of the St St Kiril and Methody` and it included 14 couplets. The first six are very often performed nowadays. The music of the hymn was composed by Nikolay Pipkov on May 11, 1900. Here is a piece of the original text translated in English:

March ahead, o revived people,
To your future march ahead,
Forge your destiny of glory,
By the might of letters led.
March to powerful knowledge,
Let your duty be your guide!
Join the host of other peoples,
God is always by your side.
Go! For like the sun is knowledge.
On the soul it sheds its rays.
Go! A people shall not perish,
When true learning lights its days.
Once unknown and obscure,
Take your place in History.
Let your spirit rule the countries
You subdued in victory.

Nowadays 11th of May is celebrated as Church Holiday of the Saint brothers Kiril and Methody and 24th of May is confirmed to be the day of Slavonic Alphabet,