Surva 08 –The International Festival of the Masquerade games in Pernik

Georgi Georgiev, VisitBulgaria.NET

The 12th issue of Surva, the International Festival of the Masquerade games in Pernik, takes place on the 26th and 27th of January. This is one of the most prestigious international folklore festivals. The event presents the national masquerade games and customs, which are well preserved in Bulgaria since the antiquity.

5000 people are expected to take part in the festival this year, which is a record-breaking number of the participants. There will be 40 foreign groups from 13 countries like Macedonia, Ireland, Slovenia and even from India. The Bulgarian masquerade traditions and customs will be presented by 90 ensembles from all over the country. They will march in procession at the central square in Pernik on the 26th and 27th of January. The folklore spectacle “Mystery - the power of the good” will mark the beginning of the festival.

The first regional and national sourvakars and mummers celebrations took place in 1966. In 1985 the festival became international event and 10 years later the International Federation of Carnival Cities accepted the town of Pernik as its full member.

Today Surva - the International Festival of the Masquerade games is an original review of the winter masquerade games and customs. The masked participants are called mummer's, sourvakars, babougery, jamilary and etc. They are mainly men, dressed in raw furry skins or in traditional women costumes. Each one of them has a heavy string of bells and rattles around his waist. Their faces are hidden behind odd, scary masks made of animal heads, birds and plumage with which they pursue the evil winter ghosts.
In the Bulgarian national traditions these masquerade games are very interesting and colourful ritual for health and prosperity. So welcome to Pernik this weekend to see how the evil ghosts will be frighten to death by the fearful mummer's and how jolly, colorful and unique are the Bulgarian national customs.