Yes, I'm interested in the old European cultural traditions which have pagan roots, and certainly are colorful.
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The caption on the photos said, "Bulgaria’s New Year tradition is that of the west Bulgarian survakari, bands of masked men who tour the villages over the New Year period (14 January, old calendar) performing ritual “playlets” (mumming), dancing,"
I'm amazed at all these men who wore the costumes in parades and then different rituals...mummers, dancing! And I think of how they were created, with probably some skilled women's fingers as well!
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That last photo with the soldiers looking at the costumed man gave me pause. Bulgaria is in the EU, and NATO, but we don't hear much about it these days. I would imagine that when it was communist until the 1986 Soviet Union's demise, that photo would have been more likely. Unfortunately, none of these photos were dated.
Today's quote:
Whenever books are burned men also in the end are burned.
-Heinrich Heine, poet, journalist, and essayist (1797-1856)
