ПРОГРАМИ
en de ru fr es sr gr al tr ro
Podcast in English
Share
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Kukeri festival in Shiroka Luka to banish evil and bring health and prosperity

Photo: Smolyan Municipality

The Kukeri Festival in Shiroka Laka, traditionally held on the first Sunday of March, marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. Accompanied by the sound of bells and cowbells, a ritual is performed to ward off evil.

On this day local masked dancers, kukeri - called pessyatsi - visit people's homes to bring good health and prosperity. They then go to the village square where they perform a wedding ritual for the bride and the elder, re-enacting birth, ploughing and sowing. It is believed that if a pessyak jumps over you, you will have a good year.


On the eve of the holiday, concerts and performances by amateur artists are organised - an exhibition of children's drawings of Kukeri, as well as plays and poetry recitals on the occasion of the National Day on 3 March. There will be a concert by students from the National School of Folk Arts in Shiroka Laka.

The Kukeri Festival is organised by the Municipality of Smolyan, the Town Hall of Shiroka Laka and the People's Community Centre "Exarch Stefan - 1872".

Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.
Radio Bulgaria Life    festival kuker pessyatsi shiroka laka

More from category

Кирил Вълчев

BTA unveils a unique font on its anniversary

February 16, 2025 marks the 127th anniversary of the first bulletin of the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency, signed by its first director Oscar Iskander. The agency was established in 1898 by a decree of Prince Ferdinand I. Just like 127 years ago, today the..

published on 2/16/25 6:10 AM

First pelican chick of the season hatched near Tutrakan

The first Dalmatian Pelican of this season hatched a few days ago in the protected area Kalimok - Brushlen near the Danube town of Tutrakan, reports the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds "BirdLife Bulgaria". The parents are taking active..

published on 2/15/25 7:45 AM

The Jamala Masquerade Festival fills the town of Kyustendil with sound and colour

More than 4,000 participants from 52 masquerade groups from all over the country will take part in the Jamala National Masquerade Festival in Kyustendil on 15 and 16 February. A children's folklore procession will start from Velbazhd Square at 10.30 a.m...

published on 2/15/25 7:30 AM

WEATHER
Pick city: Sofía
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 0 | Max: 9
Overcast, rain
Min: 4 | Max: 7
Cloudy
Min: 2 | Max: 7
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 10
Cloudy
Min: 3 | Max: 8
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 2 | Max: 8
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 1 | Max: 7
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 7
Overcast, rain
Min: 2 | Max: 8
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 0 | Max: 9
Cloudy
Min: 3 | Max: 7
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 2 | Max: 10
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 1 | Max: 10
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 7
Cloudy
Min: 3 | Max: 8
Cloudy
Min: 4 | Max: 9
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 6
Cloudy
Min: 0 | Max: 8
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 2 | Max: 7
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 3 | Max: 8
Cloudy
Min: -2 | Max: 5
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 0 | Max: 7
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 0 | Max: 9
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 7
Overcast, rain
Min: 2 | Max: 9
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 0 | Max: 7
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 1 | Max: 8
BULGARIA IN PICTURES
Which world-famous Bulgarian artist designed QSL cards for Radio Bulgaria?
Yasen Gyuzelev
Theodore Ushev
Christo Javacheff - Christo
Ilia Peikov
Lika Yanko

BULGARIANS ABROAD

Български English Русский Deutsch Српски Français Ελληνικά Español Shqip Türkçe Română
MOST VIEWED

Children with special needs to demonstrate their sports skills in Ruse

A sports festival for children and youth with special needs will be held today in the square in front of the Ruse Municipality..

published on 3/2/25 5:10 AM

Citizens and guests of Kazanlak chase away evil spirits with the “Kladi” ritual

The “Kladi” ritual, dedicated to the Cheesefare Sunday, will take place for the 32nd consecutive year on the meadow in front of the..

published on 3/2/25 4:55 AM

Bulgarian children in Las Vegas immerse themselves in native traditions and history for March 3

Our compatriots in Las Vegas organized a number of events related to the Bulgarian holidays in March , with the main focus being the..

published on 3/3/25 2:33 PM

english@bnr.bg

+359 2 9336 661

Общи условия за използване на сайта | Политика за поверителност | Политика за "бисквитки"