Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Yambol immersed in the magic of the Kuker games

5
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". 
Photo: Nezabravka KirovaЗгдшд 
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. 
Photo: Daniela Kostova
They were judged by a jury of folklorists, ethnologists, ethnographers and choreographers
Photo: Nezabravka Kirova
"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.
Photo: Daniela Kostova




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

Gallery

More from category

Four generations of talent or how the folk arts school in Kotel preserves the Bulgarian spirit

The Philip Koutev National School of Folk Arts is not just any school - it is a talent laboratory. It is the first school not only in Bulgaria but in the Balkans for professional study of folklore. It is located in the heart of the beautiful town of..

published on 2/12/25 11:38 AM

Scientists from the Sorbonne will study the cultural heritage preserved in the Etar ethnographic complex

Scientists from the Sorbonne will study the cultural heritage preserved in the Regional Ethnographic Open-Air Museum "Etar" , informs public broadcaster BNT. In March this year the French scientists together with experts of REOM "Etar" will study elements..

published on 2/7/25 7:01 PM

Vine growers and winemakers celebrate Trifonovden today

The day of St. Tryphon (1 February old style, 14 February new style) is celebrated by vine growers, falconers and gardeners in Bulgaria. Trifon Zarezan comes around with vine pruning and wine drinking St. Tryphon is believed to help..

published on 2/1/25 10:03 AM