Kukeri /Bulgaria/

The word "kukeri" is of Thracian origin and means "tall, masked people". Most players in the Kuker Games wear high hats. They dress with a mixture of feminine and male clothes and wear fearful masks. In some parts of the country, they wear clothes from goats, sheepskins or skins. They cling to bells and bells, they carry clubs to chase evil forces. So they welcome the spring, symbolizing fertility and prosperity. Most of the masks have a wooden construction. There are many colored threads, pieces of fabric, mirrors and other elements attached to them. The mask must be ugly and terrible to "frighten" the evil. The oldest masks are in the form of a ram, a goat, and a bull. Some masks have two faces. On one side the face is kind and the other ominous. This shows the good and the evil that exist in parallel in the world. The main color of the masks is red - a symbol of fertility and the rejuvenating nature, sun and fire. The other predominant color is white - a symbol of water, light and purity. Kuker games are spread not only in Bulgaria but also in some other countries. Masked people are lucky, fertile and prosperous. It is believed that the more "punches" you get from the kukeri, the more you will be the evil from you. That's why people gather together and receive them with honors and treats.