Text size

Surva holiday celebrated in Graovsko and all over Western Bulgaria

published on 1/14/24 6:30 AM

Photo: survakari.com

The Surva festival begins with the lighting of bonfires and mummers dancing the horo chain danie around the fires on the night of January 13-14.

The power and timelessness of the masquerade tradition has led UNESCO to declare it a World Heritage Site. The purpose of the ritual fires and dances is to bless the land and the people for a better life and to drive away evil spirits. Boys grow into men as they perform the Surva rites. The doors of every house are thrown wide open to welcome the Survakar parties.

This thousand-year-old tradition is the most awaited and zealously guarded in the region, handed down from father to son. Each year the masks and costumes are renewed. Younger children and women also take part in the masquerade.

In each procession there is a "leader", "the newlyweds", "the priest", "the bear with the bear-ward", according to the Ethnographic Museum in Pernik.

Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!

Radio Bulgaria Folklore festival masquerade mummers Surva UNESCO World Heritage Site

Gallery

More from category

The secrets of white halva and how a dessert preserves old Bulgarian customs

Halva, this sweet temptation with an oriental twist, is a welcome delicacy on the Bulgarian table, especially on holidays. Judging by the descriptions of Western travellers, halva was a common dessert in Bulgarian lands as early as the 16th century. The..

published on 11/27/24 3:25 PM

Folklore meeting in Bulgaria's Dobrich brings together different communities for the International Day of Tolerance

The Youth Centre "Zahari Stoyanov" in the town of Dobrich, Northeastern Bulgaria, is organizing a folklore meeting of communities on the occasion of the International Day of Tolerance. The aim of the event, which will take place from today to 17..

published on 11/15/24 6:10 AM

Bulgarian dance group Vito Horo takes part in multicultural women’s festival Harmony of Colours in Perth

The Bulgarian folklore dance group Vito Horo from Perth will take part in the multicultural women’s festival Harmony of Colours, taking place tonight in the Australian city, the Bulgarian association Rodina has announced. Besides the Bulgarian..

published on 10/12/24 11:54 AM