The Sweetest Fruit and Other Wonderful Stories from Bulgaria
Stories and games can teach us a lot about a country’s culture. In Bulgaria, children grow up listening to tales filled with wisdom and playing outdoor games that bring friends together. Let’s discover one of the most loved Bulgarian tales and explore two fun games that many Bulgarian kids enjoy playing.
The Sweetest Fruit: A Bulgarian Story of Wisdom
Once upon a time, a father had three sons. He loved them all very much, but he didn’t know which one should inherit his fortune after he died. To decide, he gave each of them a bag of gold and asked them to go find the sweetest fruit in the world. Whoever brought back the most precious fruit would earn the inheritance.
The oldest son returned first. He had found white grapes and said, “These are the sweetest fruit.”
The middle son came back next. He had traveled far south and brought bananas, oranges, and dates. “These fruits are rare and delicious,” he said proudly.
But the youngest son had stayed home. Instead of buying fruit, he spent his gold on books and went to school. When he returned, he said, “Father, I did not bring fruit you can eat, but I brought something sweeter: knowledge.”
The father smiled and hugged him. “You have chosen wisely,” he said. “There is no fruit sweeter than learning. You shall inherit everything I have.”
This story reminds Bulgarian children that education is one of the greatest treasures in life.
Fun Games Bulgarian Children Love to Play
Bulgarian kids love spending time outdoors, especially with friends. Here are two popular games they often play in schoolyards and neighborhoods.
Policemen and Thieves (стражари и апаши)
This is one of the most classic Bulgarian games. Kids split into two teams: one team is the policemen, and the other is the thieves.
The policemen chase the thieves and try to catch them all. Once a thief is caught, they must say a secret password made up by their team. After everyone is caught, the teams switch roles and the game starts again. It’s full of running, laughter, and teamwork.
Sudge (садже)
Sudge is a fun name-changing game that kids play with a ball. Here’s how it works:
One player throws the ball to someone and says something like, “Your name will be Eliza.” If the other player wants that name, they catch the ball. If they don’t like it, they throw it back. At any point, someone can say “sudge,” which means you get to choose your own name instead. If you don’t say anything, you keep your current name.
It’s a simple game, but it always makes everyone laugh and be creative with funny names.
Learning Language Through Stories and Games
Stories and games are powerful tools to help children learn new languages. They introduce useful words, cultural habits, and spark imagination. That’s why Dinolingo uses short stories, songs, and fun games to teach kids Bulgarian and many other languages.
With Dinolingo, children can explore not just the words, but also the world behind those words — the tales, the games, and the traditions that make every language special.
You can start learning today at Dinolingo Bulgarian for Kids