Bulgarian Graduations

Each year, in the second half of May, the streets of Sofia, Bulgaria, come to life with lavish high school graduation celebrations. Typically, students travel around the city in luxury cars tooting their horns loudly to mark the beginning of the festivities. Many travel to Alexander Nevsky cathedral where they gather dressed in formal attire and ascend the steps of the building in groups to shout the numbers  1 – 12, to count down their school years. Graduation traditions go back many years, but have evolved over time to become more elaborate, reflecting changes in Bulgarian society and the economy. During socialism, school proms marked the end of school discipline and the festivities were a celebration of freedom. Even though celebrations have now become more elaborate, this underlying ethos still remains. This is an ongoing body of work, documented so far during two trips to Bulgaria in 2024 and 2025.