Mummers’ play held in the town of Sredets (see pics)

Mummers’ play was held in Sredets, Southeastern Bulgaria, on February 27. Dozens of participants, including men, women and children, took part in the custom. The mummers wore traditional goatskin costumes, performed dances, rituals and went around the homes in the town.

Images by BTA

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The Mummers tradition (Koukeri) is a ritual, carried forward from the Thracians. They dance in the last days of the winter, just before nature comes back to life. The mummers walk through villages, dressed in sheepskin or goatskin garments and wearing scary masks and chanove (copper bells) on their belts, dancing and singing songs and chants, with the intention to scare away the evil spirits or ghosts which people believed came back to the living ones in winter.