Surva International Fest of the Masquerade Games in Pernik City

news.bg

More than 100 groups from 10 countries will participate in the 17th International Festival of the Masquerade Games ‘Surva 2008'.
The fest starts on Friday, January 25 and will continue till Sunday, January 27 in the city of Pernik, western from Sofia.

Bulgaria's Cultural Minister Stefan Danailov is going to be patron of the vivid event, organized by the financial support of the Culture Ministry.

The official opening starts on Friday at 18.00h in the Culture Palace in Pernik.

In the competition program where will participate only Bulgarians will compete 5,434 kukeri and sourvakari (boy going from house to house wishing people a Happy New Year).

Festive marches and scientific conference on theme ‘Masquerade - culture heritage and social practices' are also part of the program ‘Surva 2008'.

Another attraction on the fest will be masks workshop where people can watch making authentic kuker and sourvakari's costumes.

Learn more about the Kukeri:

Kukeri is a traditional Bulgarian ritual to scare away evil spirits, and a costumed man performing the ritual.

The costume cover most of the body and include decorated wooden masks of animals and bells on the belt.

Around New Year and before Lent, the kukeri walk and dance through the village to scare evil spirits with the costumes and the sound of the bells, and to provide a good harvest, health and happiness in the village during the year.

The kukeri traditionally visit people's houses at night, so that "the sun would not catch them on the road".

After going round the village, they gather at the square to dance wildly and amuse the people. The ritual varies by region but its essence remains largely the same.

The ritual is attributed to Thracian origins.