Kukeri is an ancient Bulgarian, Thracian-rooted, pagan ritual performed around New Year and before Lent to scare away evil spirits, ensure a good harvest, and promote health. Participants, often men, wear elaborate, hand-sewn costumes featuring fur, horns, and large, loud bells (sometimes weighing 50 kg). They dance in villages, specifically during the “Surva festival,” to create a thunderous,, frightening atmosphere. #tradition #newyear #bulgaria #kukeri