Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Kukeri from all over Bulgaria prepare for festival in Simitli

Photo: BGNES-library

More than 7,000 people will take part in the XIX Kukeri Games Festival "Simitliya - The Ancient Land of Kukeri" this weekend (January 14-15) in the town of Simitli. Traditionally, every year on the second Saturday of January participants from all over Bulgaria gather in the southern Bulgarian town to drive away the "evil spirits".

During the weekend full of music and dances, more than 30 kukeri groups will perform, sing and dance. People dressed as bears and bear keepers, priests, political figures, etc. will recreate ancient folk customs.

Each group will parade for about half an hour, presenting a different Survakar custom. Each year, the number of participants increases and the festival has become an emblem of the city of Simitli.

Traditionally, the interest in the holiday is very high and this year after the lifting of restrictions related to the pandemic, groups from neighboring countries will also take part in the festival, the municipality reported. Entry is free and everyone is welcome to enjoy the festive atmosphere.

Text: Veneta Nikolova



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Vine growers and winemakers celebrate Trifonovden today

The day of St. Tryphon (1 February old style, 14 February new style) is celebrated by vine growers, falconers and gardeners in Bulgaria. Trifon Zarezan comes around with vine pruning and wine drinking St. Tryphon is believed to help..

published on 2/1/25 10:03 AM

Celebrating Surva in the village of Elovdol

All Bulgarian masquerade games originate from the ancient rituals related to the birth of the sun around Christmas. With the adoption of Christianity, in order not to defile the newborn God, the custom was blurred. In the western..

published on 1/21/25 2:35 PM

Roma people in Bulgaria celebrate Vasilitsa - the old-style new year

The Roma community in Bulgaria is celebrating Vasilyevden /or Vasilitsa, Bango Vasili (literally the Lame Vasil)/, also known as the Roma New Year , reports the Amalipe Foundation.  The Roma New Year combining in its traditions Christmas with St...

published on 1/14/25 6:35 AM