Kuker - New Year's ritual in Bulgaria

• Cooker - New Year's ritual in Bulgaria

New Year's Eve every first Bulgarian turns to the Gentiles, puts goat skins turned inside out, hang bells on the belt, and the head is decorated with a huge dome - now he Kuker, disguised expelling people from houses all bad.

Kuker - widespread in Bulgaria festival, which takes place in the winter, between Christmas (which in Bulgaria is celebrated on December 25) and Epiphany, or in February, before Lent. Its indispensable attributes - large and small bells (champions, among other things, can weigh up to 70 kg), wooden swords painted in red, ritual masks with horns and costumes of animal skins. Under the melodious chime copper mummers dance calling on the ground a good harvest and bless the marriage between Mother Earth and Sky.

Teams at folk festivals are collected from across the country, there is even a gypsy Cooker (traditionally large Roma community in Bulgaria). The higher the status of the festival, the richer apparel - more hats, long fur. Begin to prepare ahead of time, because to make a suit - it is not fast, and cheap. One set of 20 bells will cost € 1000.

The social, gender, cultural differences cease to exist. Under the guise of equal everything officials and workers, women and children. "As soon as you hear the sound of bells, nothing will stop you - no matter how you are sick, poor or careless," - says Ludmila, Cooker and craftsman in the third generation. Break down its roots deep into the centuries the ritual could not even the communist regime.