Chasing Away Winter's Evil Spirits: Bulgaria's Traditional Masquerade Festival

Masked dancers, known as Kukeri, perform during the International Festival of Masquerade Games in Pernik, Bulgaria, on January 28.

The festival involves participants wearing multicolored masks covered with beads, ribbons, and woolen tassels.

As a man bangs a drum, dancers wearing bells sway like a wheat spike heavy with grain to drive away sickness and evil spirits.

In ancient times, the Thracians held the Kukeri Ritual Games in honor of Dionysus, the god of wine and ecstasy. Even today, some call the event the "Dionysus Games."

 

The municipality of Pernik has been hosting the vibrant three-day festival since 1966. It is the largest gathering of traditional masked games and customs in Bulgaria and the Balkans.

A man dressed in animal fur yells out to scare away evil spirits as he performs a dance.

Men hold up masks made of feathers.

Since 2008, the festival has been conducted every year during the last Saturday and Sunday of January.

Its most popular event is a parade by masquerade groups from Bulgaria as well as international groups.

An estimated 10,000 participants from more than 158 Bulgarian and international masquerade groups participate in the festival.

The festival is accompanied by plays, demonstrations, shows, and bazaars, but the uniquely dressed participants are the star attraction.

Awards are given out for those with the best costumes.

Masks can be up to 1 meter tall. The parade participants aim to scare away winter and encourage the coming of spring with hopes for health and a good harvest.