Bulgarians ward off evil spirits in ancient winter festival

Red-clad revellers dance around a main square in a village in Bulgaria to expel evil spirits and bring good health and crops for New Year's Eve.

The festival is held in Kosharevo every January and is called "Surva". It is a mix of Christian and pagan rituals, which can be traced back as far as Thracian times.

Survakars (or kukers) are dancers who wear wooden masks made with feathers and handcrafted. These masks can reach up to two meters high. It is believed that the loud clanging of bells on their belts helps to prevent evil and disease.

The village is 50km west of Sofia and brimming over with life during the festival. Extended families gather to welcome the Survakars, offering traditional food.

Georgi Ivanov (29 years old) has been part of the celebrations from his five-year-old days. He is determined to pass on the tradition and makes masks and costumes for his children.

"Surva is the most exciting thing. There is nothing more exciting than Surva, not birthdays, Christmas, or the New Year. Ivanov stated that Surva is our time. It is the time when we are better.

"One-two weeks prior to it, I felt as if my body was transforming into another person. It's as if there is an energy flowing through me. The whole village started to shine."

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