Sunshine, a national holiday and temporary road closures in Shumen

Today will be mostly sunny with broken high cloud across Bulgaria. Afternoon thunderstorms are expected over mountainous areas, with light to moderate winds from the east-southeast.

Maximum temperatures will reach 23–28°C, with around 25°C in Shumen. Coastal areas will see highs of 18–22°C, while the Black Sea water temperature sits at 13–14°C. Mountain areas at 1,200 metres will reach about 16°C, dropping to 8°C at 2,000 metres.

Bulgaria observes St George's Day today, honouring the patron saint of shepherds and the armed forces. The feast day, known locally as Gergyovden, has been celebrated since the third century.

St George was a Roman military officer born in Cappadocia who was martyred in 288 AD under Emperor Diocletian for refusing to renounce his Christian faith. Bulgarian tradition sees him as a symbol of the 'ideal Christian warrior', and he is venerated across Eastern and Western Christianity as well as in Islam.

Traditional celebrations include gathering flowers and greenery at dawn to make wreaths, and families sacrifice a lamb in honour of the saint. The day features Gergyovden circle dances led by the best shepherd or a pregnant woman carrying a green branch.

St George's Day is an official public holiday in Bulgaria and marks the Day of Bravery and the Bulgarian Army, a tradition established by decree in 1880 under Prince Alexander I Battenberg.

Temporary traffic restrictions are in place in central Shumen today for Day of Bravery ceremonies.

Motor vehicles are banned from Slavyanski Boulevard between Karel Škorpil Street (Regional History Museum) and Adam Mickiewicz Street (the junction with Saedinenie Street) from 11:00 to 11:45. The stretch of Slavyanski Boulevard from the pedestrian crossing at Stiliyan Chilingirov Regional Library to the Military Club must remain clear of vehicles from 08:00 to 11:45.

Delyan Peevski, leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), issued a statement marking the Day of Bravery and the Bulgarian Army. He wrote: 'We pay tribute to courage, to the Bulgarian spirit, and bow our heads before those who have defended and protected our Motherland.'

Peevski described 6 May as 'a holiday respected by all religions and ethnicities, a holiday of renewal carrying hope for a better future'. He extended greetings to all servicemen and name-day celebrants.