At the end of winter, on March 28, the international annual masquerade festival Kukerlandia traditionally starts. Costumed monsters of all stripes will gather to scare away evil spirits from the lands of Bulgaria. Kukeri, survakari, mechkari, stanchinari, maskari, dervishes and jamali, babugeri, elders will dance for 4 days in the south-east of Bulgaria in the city of Yambol. It is worth mentioning that the carnival has been held annually for 20 years, and this year the festival celebrates its anniversary.
The terrifying procession invariably attracts tens of thousands of spectators and participants coming from all over Bulgaria to be part of the colorful and deafening spectacle. The holiday is held under the motto “Kogato festival e zhivo” (when the festival is life). The date of the event is associated with the approaching holiday “Sirni Zagovezni” (farewell to winter). Its distinctive features are: consumption of milk and egg-based products, carrying out activities to expel evil forces, welcoming spring and awakening the earth. The main movements of the Kuker dance are associated with these customs. As a rule, the costumes are incredibly heavy, so only men take part in the procession. It is worth noting that despite the serious desire to scare away evil spirits, the costumes made by Bulgarian craftsmen, for the most part, turn out to be kind and funny.
It is believed that the festival in Yambol is one of the largest and most spectacular events in the country. The participation of many foreign groups adds color to the events. The festival area is Yambol City Park, turned into “Kukergrad”. In addition to the carnival, thematic concerts, exhibitions are organized in the park and other parts of the city, souvenir shops and cafes are opened. The culmination of the festival is a two-day masked procession. Last year, more than 80 groups took part. The costumed monsters will be evaluated by 7 jury members (ethnographers and folklorists), but an important evaluation tool will also be audience sympathy, measured in applause. In addition to Kuker dancers, the competition is also held for photographers.
Before the start of the festival, a “promotional event” is held - huge Kuker masks are displayed in the squares of large cities to attract the attention of tourists, as well as remind local residents of the annual masquerade. Haskovo, Pernik, Sofia, Plovdiv, Stara Zagora, Burgas and Sliven are the main stops on the route of the giant heads. The festival in Yambol begins immediately upon their return “home”. It is worth noting that during the holiday, hotel prices double, but quality remains the same most options are booked long before the start of the event.
| February 28 / Thursday | |
| 10.30 | “Az sam kukerche!” Children's folklore festival Yambol Community |
| 15.00 – 17.00 | Animated Cookerland Broadcast of thematic films and master classes Cultural and information center "Bezisten" |
| 17.00 | My Cookerlandia (children's exhibition) Awarding the exhibition winners People's reading room “Consent-1862” (library foyer) |
| 18.00 | The Legend of the First Cooker Official opening, broadcast of the cartoon “The Golden Apple” Cultural and information center "Bezisten" |
| March 1 / Friday | |
| 14.00 – 16.00 | Animated Cookerland Broadcast of thematic films and master classes Cultural and information center "Bezisten" |
| 17.00 | Photo exhibition “Human destiny” Exhibition by Nikolai Treiman and Tsocho Boyadzhiev Georges Papazov Art Gallery |
| 17.30 | The festival took over the city Carnival procession of cookers St. "G. Rakovski" - pl. “Liberation” - scene “Bezisten” |
| 18.30 | Under the sign of the cooker Official opening. Performance by the Chinari ensemble. Cultural and information center "Bezisten" |
| March 2 / Saturday | |
| 10.00 – 17.30 |
Masquerade parade
Competitive procession “Kukerlandia 2019” 1st part of the main event of the festival City park, 1st scene |
| 12.00 – 13.00 | Representation of foreign participants |
| 10.30 – 17.30 | Show at Kukerovo Group performance City park, 2nd scene |
| 10.00 – 12.00 / 14.00 – 16.00 |
Animated Cookerland Broadcast of thematic films and master classes Cultural and information center "Bezisten" |
| 10.00 – 16.00 |
Holiday without borders
Balkan bazaar, souvenirs from artisans Concert program Liberation Square, Bezisten Cultural and Information Center |
| 13.00 | International photo exhibition “Cookerlandia” Awarding the winners of the “Cooker Magic” photo competition Georges Papazov Art Gallery |
| 17.30 | Sirini Zagovezni Traditional jumping over a fire, a giant bannitsa, throwing arrows, “hamkan” with halva, folklore program. City park, 1st scene |
| March 3 / Sunday | |
| 10.00 – 16.30 |
Masquerade parade
Competitive procession “Kukerlandia 2019” 2nd part of the main event of the festival City park, 1st scene |
| 10.30 – 16.30 | Show at Kukerovo Group performance City park, 2nd scene |
| 10.00 – 16.00 | Holiday without borders Balkan bazaar, souvenirs from artisans |
| 13.00 – 16.00 |
Concert program
Liberation Square, Bezisten Cultural and Information Center |
| 16.30 | VIVA Kukerlandia! Final concert City park, 1st scene |
Official symbols of the festival
Unfortunately, the other side of the festival, which is not usually noticed, is the huge number of skins and body parts of cattle, the basis of the costumes of the performers. The skins and antlers (and sometimes even the dried heads) of countless animals make few people think about the significant number of unjustified deaths.