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Mysterious Customs and Rituals in Bulgaria: Men dressed in bizarre costume props and dancing along the streets to drive away evil spirits

author:Related to existence

Bulgaria is a country located in southeastern Europe, with a land area of 111,000 square kilometers and a population of only about 7 million. The Thracians are the oldest inhabitants of Bulgaria, who have lived in Bulgaria for more than five thousand years and are one of the most well-documented Indo-European civilizations.

Today, we will take a look at a traditional custom of Thracian customs in Bulgaria, which is said to have been passed down for more than 4,000 years, with a hint of mystery in the ancient!

The name of this customary ritual is Babugeri (Babugri), also known as Kukeri (Kukeri), which originally referred to a mythical monster, which is said to be a strange creature with long hair, goat legs and animal ears, which is very frightening, and later refers to men dressed up in strange costumes to participate in this ritual.

Mysterious Customs and Rituals in Bulgaria: Men dressed in bizarre costume props and dancing along the streets to drive away evil spirits

According to the Thracians, in ancient times, people believed that wearing terrible costumes and masks, and making loud noises with bells and chains, could drive away evil spirits and protect their land from terrible events such as famine. On specific dates, men were selected to wear terrible costumes and masks, with huge brass bells hanging from their waists, to dance and jump in a mysterious ritual to expel evil spirits, a ritual that has survived to this day, and many parts of Bulgaria have retained this traditional customary ritual, although today the ceremony is more like a carnival.

Mysterious Customs and Rituals in Bulgaria: Men dressed in bizarre costume props and dancing along the streets to drive away evil spirits

In the earliest surviving descriptions of the Babugeri or Kukeri rituals, the ceremony began at sunrise, and well-dressed men would dance in the streets of the village to ward off evil spirits and hope to bring health, happiness, and a good year, and then they would visit the families in the village, from house to house, and bless the families they visited.

Mysterious Customs and Rituals in Bulgaria: Men dressed in bizarre costume props and dancing along the streets to drive away evil spirits

In different parts of Bulgaria, this ritual is also held at different times, for example, in eastern Bulgaria, the event is usually held between the second Sunday before Lent and the first Sunday before Lent, while in western Bulgaria, it takes place between Christmas and New Year.

There are regional differences not only in terms of when the ceremony is held, but also in the names, costumes and manner in which the ceremony is held in different parts of the country.

In many areas, Babugeri's costumes are mainly made of goat wool, and the long goat wool clothing covers most of the human body, as well as animal-themed masks and bells tied to the belt, some of which are about a meter high, which looks very shocking. In some mountainous areas, Babugeri's costumes and masks vary in form and variety.

Mysterious Customs and Rituals in Bulgaria: Men dressed in bizarre costume props and dancing along the streets to drive away evil spirits
Mysterious Customs and Rituals in Bulgaria: Men dressed in bizarre costume props and dancing along the streets to drive away evil spirits
Mysterious Customs and Rituals in Bulgaria: Men dressed in bizarre costume props and dancing along the streets to drive away evil spirits

While each regional ceremony is held differently in a different time and manner, they all share the same purpose, which is to drive out evil spirits in the hope of bringing a year's worth of harvest, good health and happiness to the locals.

For nearly half a century, the practice of the Babugeri tradition has shifted. Traditionally, it was limited to young men, but today, the ceremony welcomes women and men of all ages.

Mysterious Customs and Rituals in Bulgaria: Men dressed in bizarre costume props and dancing along the streets to drive away evil spirits

In addition to Bulgaria, Babugeri/Kukeri is also popular in other countries such as Italy, Romania, Serbia, Moldova, Greece, North Macedonia, Croatia, Spain and Slovenia. Some foreign groups also go to Bansko, Bulgaria, to attend the ceremony every year.

Each culture has its own unique traditional customs and rituals, some with some superstitious ideas, but they are pinned on people's good wishes, and it is also an expression of traditional culture, or a social activity that can connect people, which is worthy of our attention and inheritance!

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