Here comes "Starchevata" - Chaushi take over Bulgaria's Razlog ‎

published on 12/31/24 11:47 AM

Photo: БТА

On the first day of the incoming 2025, the small town of Razlog in the Pirin Mountain will wake up to the sound of bells, zurnas and drums. Traditionally, the colorful Kukeri festival "Starchevata" will begin at 11:00 a.m. on the central square "Preobrazhenie". Seven groups from seven neighborhoods of Razlog are preparing to bring the entire town to its feet. The colorful and noisy spectacle will feature 250 mummers and over 2,200 participants in costumes, reports the Razlog municipality, the festival organizer.‎

Chaushi, arapi, babugeri and dzhumali – Evo Danchev and his magical mummers

In addition to "Starchevata", the carnival is also known as "New Year in Razlog" or "Surva". It will feature mummers' groups in folk costumes, Survakari groups, comedians, etc. In each group, the first maiden and the first bachelor are necessarily selected and of course, the first chaush! This is how they call their mummers in Razlog. They are accompanied by bears with bear handlers, and after them parade hundreds of men, women and children dressed in colorful Razlog costumes.

Only in Razlog are the masked mummers called chaushi. The Razlog chaushi and how they should look are things officially patented and have become a symbol of a tradition that is still alive today.

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The group of dancers, dressed in authentic costumes, with embroidery and jewelry, is quite diverse. Everyone takes part in the celebration - from babies to dignified old men over 80 years old. Entire families, transformed into their attractive costumes, take part in the dance... And so the mummers' festival becomes a unique spectacle for thousands of spectators - residents and guests of Razlog. ‎

‎"Starchevata" is one of the emblems of the mountain town, a tradition that has been preserved for many generations. The festival is the culmination of the New Year holidays, concludes historian Emilia Kadurina in her research. In fact, this is the moment when the young God "descends" to the people to bestow his protection and blessing on them. And the residents of Razlog pay their respects to Him through their common dance. Holding hands, they merge into one whole, welcoming the first day of the new year with joy and faith.

"The square will turn into love, song, into a fire that will illuminate the hearts of all who love the Bulgarian tradition," promise the organizers and urge us to visit Razlog on the first day of 2025 to immerse ourselves in the magic of "Starchevata".‎