site.btaThousands of Mummers to Parade in International Masks and Games Festival in Simitli

Thousands of mummers will appear in the 20th edition of a festival of masks and games called "Simitlia - the Ancient Land of the Babugers". It will be held in the stadium in Simitli, Blagoevgrad Region between January 13 and 14. The organizers expect a record-large number of participants from across Bulgaria and groups from other countries.

The babugers are the local type of kukeri, which is the most common word for Bulgarian mummers.

Simitli Mayor Apostol Apostolov said that more than 30 groups from other parts of the country have so far confirmed their participation in the festival. The number is expected to grow to about 50.

As usual, the event will present fascinating mummers' costumes and old rituals, including the colourful custom of survakane, centred on wishing everyone a prosperous new year.

The art of mummery has a longstanding tradition in the Simitli area, but it was suppressed by the communist regime between 1944 and 1989, when the rituals were performed clandestinely, Apostolov said. The festival was launched in 2003 under Apostolov as mayor.

Initially held on January 1, the annual festival was later moved to the second Saturday in the month, and most recently it has been a two-day event taking place on the second weekend in January.

Its popularity grows with every passing year as the local people are raised to love the Bulgarian spirit and tradition, Apostolov said. It has always attracted groups from parts of Bulgaria where mummery is a cherished tradition, such as Karlovo, Yambol and Pernik, and international guest performers from Greece and North Macedonia.

In the past, locals would tour the country, with the Karlovo area being the primary destination, to look for animals with the best wool for mummers' costumes. In later times many people in Simitli began to raise the breeds they needed, the mayor explained.