Masquerade festival held in Bulgarian town

STORY: Masquerade festival held in Bulgarian town SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 26, 2024 DATELINE: Jan. 27, 2024 LENGTH: 00:03:49 LOCATION: PERNIK, Bulgaria CATEGORY: CULTURE SHOTLIST: 1. various of the event STORYLINE: Over 10,000 people wearing masks took part in Bulgaria's traditional masquerade festival on Friday in Pernik, a town located 30 km west of Bulgaria's capital city of Sofia. Masquerade rituals in Bulgaria are believed to date back to pagan times, when people tried to chase away winter's evil spirits by putting on scary-looking ritual masks and making as much noise as possible with rattles and bells, to bring fertility and health, and to prepare people for a new beginning. This year's event, the "Surva" International Festival of Masquerade Games, attracted 105 masquerade groups from Bulgaria and 20 from other countries including Greece, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia. There are different roles played in Bulgarian masquerade groups such as commander, bride, bridegroom, doctor, policema

BULGARIA-PERNIK-SURVA-MASQUERADE GAMES-FESTIVAL

BULGARIA-PERNIK-SURVA-MASQUERADE GAMES-FESTIVAL

(240126) -- PERNIK (BULGARIA), Jan. 26, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Performers take part in a parade during the "Surva" International Festival of Masquerade Games in Pernik, a town located 30 km west of Sofia, Bulgaria, on Jan. 26, 2024. Over 10,000 people wearing masks took part in Bulgaria's traditional masquerade festival here on Friday. (Xinhua/Lin Hao) TO GO WITH Feature: Colorful, noisy carnival kicks off in Pernik, Bulgaria

BULGARIA-PERNIK-SURVA-MASQUERADE GAMES-FESTIVAL

BULGARIA-PERNIK-SURVA-MASQUERADE GAMES-FESTIVAL

(240126) -- PERNIK (BULGARIA), Jan. 26, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Performers take part in a parade during the "Surva" International Festival of Masquerade Games in Pernik, a town located 30 km west of Sofia, Bulgaria, on Jan. 26, 2024. Over 10,000 people wearing masks took part in Bulgaria's traditional masquerade festival here on Friday. (Xinhua/Lin Hao) TO GO WITH Feature: Colorful, noisy carnival kicks off in Pernik, Bulgaria

BULGARIA-PERNIK-SURVA-MASQUERADE GAMES-FESTIVAL

BULGARIA-PERNIK-SURVA-MASQUERADE GAMES-FESTIVAL

(240126) -- PERNIK (BULGARIA), Jan. 26, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Performers take part in a parade during the "Surva" International Festival of Masquerade Games in Pernik, a town located 30 km west of Sofia, Bulgaria, on Jan. 26, 2024. Over 10,000 people wearing masks took part in Bulgaria's traditional masquerade festival here on Friday. (Xinhua/Lin Hao) TO GO WITH Feature: Colorful, noisy carnival kicks off in Pernik, Bulgaria

BULGARIA-PERNIK-SURVA-MASQUERADE GAMES-FESTIVAL

BULGARIA-PERNIK-SURVA-MASQUERADE GAMES-FESTIVAL

(240126) -- PERNIK (BULGARIA), Jan. 26, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Performers take part in a parade during the "Surva" International Festival of Masquerade Games in Pernik, a town located 30 km west of Sofia, Bulgaria, on Jan. 26, 2024. Over 10,000 people wearing masks took part in Bulgaria's traditional masquerade festival here on Friday. (Xinhua/Lin Hao) TO GO WITH Feature: Colorful, noisy carnival kicks off in Pernik, Bulgaria

BULGARIA-PERNIK-SURVA-MASQUERADE GAMES-FESTIVAL

BULGARIA-PERNIK-SURVA-MASQUERADE GAMES-FESTIVAL

(240126) -- PERNIK (BULGARIA), Jan. 26, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Performers take part in a parade during the "Surva" International Festival of Masquerade Games in Pernik, a town located 30 km west of Sofia, Bulgaria, on Jan. 26, 2024. Over 10,000 people wearing masks took part in Bulgaria's traditional masquerade festival here on Friday. (Xinhua/Lin Hao) TO GO WITH Feature: Colorful, noisy carnival kicks off in Pernik, Bulgaria