For International Mother Language Day: a replica of Alice in Wonderland in 30 languages and a fashion show of traditional clothing

A documentary from Antakya before the devastating earthquake tells the story of people from different religions who have coexisted together for millennia

A cue from Alice in Wonderland will be performed in 30 languages on 21 February at the Trimontium Hotel. Foreign students from all over the world who have chosen to study in Plovdiv, honorary consuls in the city under the hills, representatives of different communities in the city, students from language schools will join in the celebration of the International Mother Language Day. This is the sixth edition of the event, which is traditionally organized by the Bulgarian-Turkish Literary Club and is part of Plovdiv's cultural calendar. Among the participants in the event will be girls and boys whose language is sign language.

This year marks the 125th anniversary of the death of Charles Latouidge Dodgson, better known by his pen name Lewis Carroll, in whose books language takes on new dimensions - he created mirror worlds of reality where nothing is as we expect, the organisers motivate their choice.

The Bulgarian-Turkish Literary Club will take the audience to the event in Antakya and Gaziantep. In November, a team from the club is making a 10-minute film about the territories that inherit Ancient Antioch, where Syrians, Orthodox Christians, Catholics, Muslims, Jews, Armenians, Alians, and Kurds have coexisted for millennia. Alas, after the devastating earthquake of 6 February, many of the cultural, historical and architectural monuments are now in ruins.

The event will also pay special attention to the traditional dress of nations and ethnic groups for whom, permanently or temporarily, Plovdiv has become a place of life, work and creativity. Participants will take part in a parade, and the commonality in the garments will be sought by Associate Professor Dr. Zoya Mikova from the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts.

The show starts at 6 pm at Ramada Plovdiv Trimontsium.

The event is funded by the Municipality of Plovdiv and is part of the city's Cultural Calendar for 2023.