The Saturday before Palm Sunday, a week before Easter, is Lazaritza. In Bulgarian folklore, Lazarus carries an axe because the elderly believe he is the master of timber and bushes and helps people clear them so the land can be used for ploughing and planting. St. Lazarus’ Day is also connected with 'lazarouvane', an old spring ritual for young girls who dance, sing and dress in wedding costumes.

This year St. Lazarus’ Day fell on 15th April and Zornitsa folklore ensemble, Sofia, traveled to the nearby township of Pernik where they had been invited to present a concert. It was a beautiful warm and sunny spring day, ideal for performing outdoors in front of the Cultural Centre.

 Folklore Dance Ensemble Zornitsa danced:
- Trakiiski Smessen (mixed);
- Trakiiska Mladost (men’s dance);
- Zhenski Shopski (women’s Shoppian dance);
- Vidinski (mixed);
- Severnyashki (men’s dance)
- Shoppian Suite (mixed).

Аs always the dancing was impeccable and a credit to the choreographer/art director, Emil Genov.
As well, Zornitsa vocal folklore group sang and included in their repertoire "Jana turchin lagala", "Makya Yana na daleko dava" and "Stoino le mome yubava". At the end of the concert the dancers started a "horo", in which many of the public also took part.

Held in the bright sunshine with a festive feeling in the air, this was an unforgettable concert. We will all remember the beautiful dancers, the charming singers and their harmonic voices and the vibrant and rich colors of the costumes, for a long time to come.