Kuker Music

PEOPLE AS BELLS



Kukeri, also known as survakari, chaushi, babugeri, stanichari or

jamalari, are traditional Bulgarian carnival characters. They are men

disguised as beasts or as popular characters from Bulgarian country

life scenes wearing masks and shaggy coats, bells on their gridles.

These macabre creatures dance on the streets to frighten the evil forces,

to banish the winter cold and perform rituals for rich harvest and good

health. Kukeris games with their magical dances, scary masks and bells

peal drive to scare and chase away forever the evil spirits and fates and

to bring along a rich crop.

Colors of the costumes and masks are of great significance.

The red color dominates as a symbol of the fecundity, revival nature, the sun

and the fire. The black color personifies Mother Earth and the white

color is the symbol of the water and the light.



The silence was torn

Bells were ringing – many bells: of copper, silver, and gold

Bells jubilant, jolly, and singing

The earth of all the bells…

The world of all the bells

The bells of the stars…



Oh, these bells are vast!

Thousands of bells: of copper, silver, and gold -

and their sacred song reaches the peaks of the Balkan mountain!