July Morning

In Bulgaria, there is a tradition called July Morning which is believed to be an echo from the hippie era of the 1960–1980s. Although not universally observed in the country, it is unique as it is not observed anywhere else in the world.

Usually, in the days before 1st of July, people from across Bulgaria travel (often hitchhiking) to the Black Sea coast to meet the first sun rays on the first day of July. People gather around fires, play music and wait for the sunrise. There is no mandatory ritual, ceremony or rite for this tradition and it is up to participants' discretion how will they spend the night before July 1. On many locations, there are concerts with professional and amateur bands. Camping at the locations of choice for the July Morning celebration is also very popular.

Initially, celebrants gathered on Pier 1 in Port of Varna East; now the vigil takes place on beaches as well. In recent years, it has spread to Kamen Bryag, Kavarna, Shkorpilovtsi, Irakli, Burgas, Sozopol, Varvara, Ahtopol, Chernomorets as well as the whole Bulgarian Black Sea coast.

July Morning (song)

"July Morning" is a song by Uriah Heep. It is the third track on their 1971 album Look at Yourself.

The song was written by the band's keyboardist Ken Hensley and lead singer, David Byron. Approximately the last four minutes of the piece consist of a virtuosic organ solo. The odd sounding calliope riffs are played by Manfred Mann who, according to the album's liner notes, "appears for the first time with his Moog synthesizer". The song also was released as a single from Uriah Heep's first live album Uriah Heep Live.

The song is written in the key of C minor, and is played with six chords: Cm, Fm, Bb, Eb, G and Ab. The song has four verses and four choruses, featuring an organ introduction and a guitar solo. There is a guitar bridge between the first and second parts of the song.

AllMusic contributor Dave Thompson described the song as the best produced by Uriah Heep, with a "magnificent arrangement and performance", and in 1995, Radiomafia added "July Morning" to their list of "Top 500 Songs".