If you are planning to visit Bulgaria, you might want to learn some of the

common hand gestures that people use there. Hand gestures can convey a lot
of meaning and emotion, and sometimes they can even cause
misunderstandings if you are not familiar with them. Here are some of the
most common hand gestures in Bulgaria and what they mean.

- The head shake: In most countries, shaking your head from side to side
means "no", but in Bulgaria it means "yes". Conversely, nodding your head up
and down means "no" in Bulgaria. This can be very confusing for foreigners, so
be careful when you communicate with Bulgarians using your head
movements. You might end up agreeing to something you don't want to or
rejecting something you do want to.

- The moutza: This is a gesture where you extend your palm towards someone
with your fingers spread apart. It is considered very rude and offensive in
Bulgaria, as it implies that you are throwing dirt or feces at them. You might
see this gesture used by angry drivers or protesters, but you should never use
it yourself unless you want to start a fight.

- The fig: This is a gesture where you make a fist with your thumb sticking out
between your index and middle fingers. It is similar to the "OK" sign in some
countries, but in Bulgaria it has a different meaning. It is used to express
contempt or mockery towards someone, or to indicate that something is
worthless or fake. You might see this gesture used by sarcastic or cynical
people, but you should avoid using it yourself unless you want to offend
someone.

- The horn sign: This is a gesture where you extend your index and little fingers
while curling your middle and ring fingers towards your palm. It is similar to
the "rock on" sign in some countries, but in Bulgaria it has a different
meaning. It is used to imply that someone's spouse or partner is cheating on
them, or to curse someone with bad luck. You might see this gesture used by
jealous or spiteful people, but you should never use it yourself unless you
want to hurt someone's feelings.

These are some of the most common hand gestures in Bulgaria, but there are
many more that you can learn if you want to understand the culture better.
Hand gestures can be a fun and expressive way of communicating, but they
can also be a source of confusion and conflict if you are not careful. So before
you visit Bulgaria, make sure you know what your hands are saying.