Bulgaria's "Reversed Nodding" Myth: Far Less Dramatic Than the Internet Claims

Viral stories about Bulgarians nodding to mean "no" and shaking their heads to mean "yes" are greatly exaggerated, according to a closer look at the phenomenon. The custom does exist historically, but most modern Bulgarians use gestures consistent with the wider European standard. Travellers are advised not to take social-media anecdotes at face value.