VIDEO: WATCH: Bulgarian folk performers dress up in vibrant costumes for a masquerade festival

It’s colorful, it’s loud and it’s filled with centuries of tradition. This is the Surva festival in the Pernik region, the oldest masquerade event in Bulgaria.

After a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the artists known as Kukeri are back.

“The dances are meant to scare away evil, that’s what all the artists at the festival have in common. Their performances express a sense of magic, of mystery; after all, evil is always with us, although it remains invisible.” says Nadya Manolova, a history professor at Sofia University.

“On the other hand, there is the fire and the sound of the brass bells which call people to unite in the struggle for the good, and which attracts many young people, including children, to take part, although they were never part was part of the traditions.” she added.

Watch the video in player above.