The Balkans and Bulgaria's history for the last 2 centuries is an endless chain of rises and mostly bitter falls ... As Samantha said, when talking about these issues in the eyes of a normal and inteligent Bulgarian, who knows a bit over the avarage about his countrie's history you could see anger, forgiveness, indignation, sadness and indifference all at once... The 3rd of March is celebrated so much for only one reason - because it was the only day when all the people with Bulgarian origin were celebrating the fact that they are united and free in one single country. Sadly soon after 1878 only half of them remained free and the rest were given back under the turkish/ottoman rule. The following dacades were drown in the blood of the Dream all the Bulgarians to be united and free together again. The Dream actually turned into an Illusion ... the Illuson that with each one's blood and bravery we could buy up the stupidity of those in power ... 200k men left their bones all over the peninsula, just to fullfill those illusions, because here on the Balkans we don't fullfill our dreams - we drown them - in blood. Аnd only those who have seen that blood know that the years don't matter, and the countries don't matter ... only the people are important.