Text size

Yambol immersed in the magic of the Kuker games

published on 3/17/24 4:16 PM

Photo: kukerlandia

Thousands of cowbells of different sizes and shapes filled the streets of Yambol with chiming, jingling and ringing at the 25th International Masquerade Festival "Kukerlandia".

Згдшд

More than two thousand mummers - called kukeri, sourvakari, babugeri, camillari, etc. - showed the richness of the masquerade rite from all over Bulgaria. Nearly 50 groups of mummers took part in the parade.

They were judged by a jury of folklorists, ethnologists, ethnographers and choreographers.

"The groups should stick to the authenticity of the tradition and not rely on attractiveness and cultural engineering," urged Dr Iglika Mishkova of the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Women and children have no place in these rituals, which are typically only for men, she explained. "If we go into this role reversal, we would really expect to see men as lazarki (a wedding tradition for women only - ed)," Mishkova added.

Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!

Radio Bulgaria Folklore kukeri kukerlandia tradition yambol

Gallery

More from category

Why is it important for each lazarka girl to participate in the ritual kumichene on Palm Sunday?

In the Bulgarian folk tradition, the feasts of Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday are related holidays. From Lazarus Saturday (Lazarovden in Bulgaria), girls prepare for the ritual kumichene, which is performed on the morning of Palm Sunday. A very old..

published on 4/13/25 11:56 AM

The Strelcha Museum presents the exhibition "A Fine Easter, a Finer St. George’s Day".

In April and May the visitors of the Strelcha Historical Museum will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the traditions connected with the Easter holiday cycle through the exhibition A Fine Easter, a Finer St. George’s Day . Easter..

published on 4/13/25 7:50 AM

"Lazaruvane" - a rite symbolising a girl's "coming of age".

Lazarus Saturday is widely known in Bulgaria as Lazarovden , celebrated by Orthodox Bulgarians on the day before Palm Sunday. The main rite is the lazaruvane - a traditional custom centred on themes of love and marriage. Girls over the age of 16,..

published on 4/12/25 7:30 AM

WEATHER

Pick city: Sofía

Partly cloudy, chance of rain
Min: 15 | Max: 28

BULGARIA IN PICTURES

Which world-famous Bulgarian artist designed QSL cards for Radio Bulgaria?

A film tells the story of Munich-based Bulgarian ensemble ‘Lazarka’

The number of Bulgarian folk dance ensembles abroad is growing and, alongside Bulgarian schools, they are among the key centres that unite compatriots..

published on 8/5/25 9:45 PM

Three days, six stages and over 7,000 participants – Koprivshtitsa brings together the best amateurs from Bulgaria

The heart and rhythm of the Bulgarian spirit – with these words we can metaphorically define the National Festival of Bulgarian Folklore. Traditionally,..

published on 8/6/25 12:14 PM

Share