2026 is upon us, and with it come plans for the books and events that await us. As always, with "Bulgarian Illustration" you will be up to date with the latest on the domestic and global scene. With today's publication, however, we decided to go back in time and remember some of the names without whom children's literature would not be the same. We decided to prepare a short chronology of the significant anniversaries in the New Year especially for you.
In 2026, we will celebrate the 140th anniversary of the birth of Ran Bosilek and the 100th anniversary of the publication of the first story about his Patilan detachment. We will also celebrate the anniversary of the birth of Stoyan Mihaylov Popov, better known to us as Uncle Stoyan. He was born 160 years ago on the Day of the Summer Solstice – June 21, and at the end of the publication you will learn which other of our children's writers was born on the same date.
In 2026, we will celebrate the 120th anniversary of the birth and 40th anniversary of the death of another significant figure in our children's literature – Emil Koralov. We will also celebrate the heavenly birthdays of Katya Vodenicharova (100 years old), Kina Kadreva (95 years old), Boris Aprilov (105 years old), Nikolay Zidarov (105 years old), Georgi Danailov (90 years old), Iliya Beshkov (125 years old).
We will also count down the anniversaries of the loss of Ivan Vazov (105 years old), Elisaveta Bagryana (75 years old), Asen Raztsvetnikov (75 years old), Svetoslav Minkov (60 years old), Georgi Rusafov (45 years old) and Georgi Avgarski (35 years old). We will also remember the passing of some of the great names in Bulgarian illustration: Boris Angelushev (60 years old), Georgi Atanasov (75 years old), Dechko Uzunov (40 years old), Nevena Tuzsuzova (35 years old), Ivan Enchev-Vidyu (90 years old).
Next year, the most beloved bear of children around the world – “Winnie the Pooh” will celebrate its centennial anniversary. It will also be 70 years since his father – Alan Milne – left the earth. Next to “Winnie the Pooh” is one of the most beloved rabbits – Peter. In 2026, it will be 125 years since the publication of his story and 160 years since the birth of his creator Beatrix Potter. We should not miss the 110th anniversary of the birth of Roald Dahl and the 70th anniversary of the publication of one of his most popular works – “The Magic Finger”.
Among the star birthdays of the literary firmament will be Carlo Collodi (200 years), Edmondo de Amicis (180 years), Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (150 years), Jack London (150 years since his birth and 110 years since his death), Rudolf Erich Raspe (290 years), Wilhelm Carl Grimm (240 years).
Anniversaries of the loss of: Harriet Beecher Stowe (130 years since his death and 215 years since his birth), Tove Jansson (25 years), Rudyard Kipling (90 years), Nikolai Nosov (50 years), Arkady Gaidar (85 years), Emilio Salgari (115 years), Pamela Travers (30 years).
We will celebrate the anniversaries of the publication of "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" (150 years), "Anton and Tochitsa" (95 years), "The Double Lothen" (75 years) and "The Adventures of Lukcho" (75 years). The year is also the anniversary year for two of Astrid Lindgren's most popular titles - "The Children of "Tryaskadzhiyska" Street (70 years) and "Ronya - the Robber's Daughter" (45 years).
Finally, we will tell you which of our contemporary children's authors will have an occasion to celebrate anniversaries in 2026. On May 10, 80 candles on the cake will be blown out by the "wicked child" Viktor Samuilov. There will be five more on Ivan Tsanev's cake on November 30. Nikola Raykov, born on June 21, 1981 (the same date as Uncle Stoyan), will also celebrate a small anniversary. If she is superstitious, Radostina Nikolova will not be celebrating her birthday this year (the girl from "Marmot" will be turning 40).
Author: Katya Kirilova
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