Independence Day in Bulgaria is observed every September 22, commemorating the country's independence from the Ottoman Empire, which was proclaimed in 1908 by Prince Ferdinand in Tarnovo. The holiday is widely celebrated across Bulgaria, with significant festivities taking place in Sofia and Veliko Tarnovo. Celebrations include official speeches, parades, open-air performances, special church services, and wreath-laying ceremonies at monuments and memorials. Although the holiday was abolished after the Soviet invasion in 1944, it was reinstated by the Bulgarian parliament in 1998 and has been observed annually since. The day serves as a reminder of Bulgaria's historical struggle for independence and is marked by various festive events and activities throughout the country.