Masked dancers drive out evil at Bulgaria festival

Elaborately masked dancers continued an age-old Bulgarian carnival tradition passed down from generation to generation in the belief it helps to ward off evil spirits. The Surva festival marks the culmination of traditional winter festivities.

Every winter in villages across the Balkan country, men, women and children dress for the festival in sometimes bizarre costumes and wearing masks designed to be as scary as possible. Usually, the procession would walk through the village and stop by every house where the hosts would offer them some bites and small gifts.

But due to pandemic restrictions, this year, the dancers were allowed only in the yard. The costumes are made of sheep or goat skin, with fur on the outside and cow or sheep bells around their waists. The masks are usually made of wood and depict goats, rams or bulls, or some mythical creatures. Some masks have two faces - an evil one on the front and a good one on the back, symbolizing the relationship between good and evil.