Kukers usually appear in the winter season, which is partly understandable; in the summer the sun would hardly allow them to stay in such costumes for a long time. According to tradition, Kukers drive away evil spirits and creatures from a person’s home and household, and also win over good patrons of a good harvest.
In the early morning of January 1, you can meet Kukers in the main squares of towns and villages, they dance and make noise to scare away dangerous spirits and attract tourists. Usually Kukers walk along one of the main roads to the sounds of drums and other traditional Bulgarian instruments. Usually, a few days before the event, they rehearse the procession without costumes, but with music. This procession is called the Cooker Games. You can also meet mummers during Christmas week and Maslenitsa, before Lent. There is no exact calendar or schedule for the dances; usually announcements about the procession are posted by community workers on information boards in towns and villages several weeks before the event.
In order to scare off as many evil spirits as possible, Kukers try to look as fierce as possible. There is an opinion that the emergence of the Kuker tradition is connected with the heritage of the Thracians. It is also worth noting that this pagan ritual is very similar in nature to the burning of an effigy on Maslenitsa. Usually men (mostly single) dress up as Kukers, since the costumes are heavy, and you also need to dance in them. In addition to animal skins, Bulgarians often decorate their costumes with huge bells, the same ones they hang for sheep and cows in pastures. In their hands they hold wooden sabers partially painted red.
Jamalars, Kukoves, Babugers, Startsi, Sirviskari, Aushi, Pesyatsi, Stanichars are all varieties of the names of Kukers. In small villages, Kukers go from house to house, sing songs and play for the owners, thereby scaring away evil spirits, and act out skits on this topic, for which they receive small gifts from the owners. Afterwards they gather in the square where they entertain the rest of those gathered.
In large cities, such as Pernik, a masquerade carnival in the style of the Kuker Games is often held. Sometimes it lasts for a whole week, the actors come from various nearby countries with a similar tradition. Sometimes you can find Kukers performed by gypsies, who live in their own diasporas and, as a rule, do not take an active part in the social life of Bulgaria.
Unfortunately, there are accidents; from time to time the suits catch fire, as Bulgarians smoke a lot. Fortunately, the holidays have so far passed without serious casualties.
In general, such processions are quite harmless for spectators, since the mummers usually follow the plot of the production and do not come into contact with the public.
