The Kukeri demon hunters of Bulgaria

The Balkans is home to an ancient pagan tradition where magic and mystery still have a sacred place in the cosmic order. The Kukeri festival has had a stronghold over Bulgarian cultural life since the fifth century, surviving the Ottomans, Christendom and communist rule. Every winter, hundreds of terrifying figures prowl snow-capped forests and village centers in search of evil spirits to dispel from their communities. Oversized bells, gnarled horns, wooden staffs and fantastical masks are just some of the familiar components of a ‘kuker’s’ costume...
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[@marybethroden5910]

Wow! That is wild. So glad to have the chance to learn about this - a really, ancient, shamanic tradition - resonated with me, like a window into what pre-Christian traditions must have been like, something really primal about it. Amazing that it continued and survived alongside Ottoman rule and communism and even with Christianity - judging from the fact that at least the people showcased here practice both the old tradition and Christianity - this is what the syncretic blend of pagan and Christian traditions must have been like throughout Europe as Christianity was introduced to indigenous cultures.

[@rado78231]

Besides, we are a very stubborn bunch. And greetings from Bulgaria, madam!

[@ColoradoStreaming]

Check out the band Heilug which is based on pagan Germanic/Nordic shamanic tradition.

[@ColoradoStreaming]

@GeleNikolov They are pretty chill if you ever check them out and it has nothing to do with Nazis at all. They do their opening ceremonies in the US with Native American tribes and stuff. I prefer Slavic folk music more overall but Heiling has some good tracks like Norupo and Asja.

[@lorenlash9174]

This is such an incredible and beautiful ritual, made all the more special being passed down by family members. Most people in this world will never have this kind of deep connection to their ancestors or culture. As she was skipping down the road in her costume, I could see the whole army of her ancestors moving right along with her, a most potent legion of sacred guardians. What a phenomenal family!

[@angieseven5687]

they do have connection but cannot feel heart singing to (noisy)mind shamanic dance is medicine , establishing heart mind connection

[@og-polecatsky]

Thank you so much for showcasing one of the most important cultural traditions! 🇧🇬

[@og-polecatsky]

There is an amazing festival called Surva where thousands of kukeri gather in order to dance together!

[@mhlmlki]

браво сашко

[@RositsaPetrovarjp7]

Nice video. a couple of additions. in some regions of Bulgaria the kukeri come out in spring, not in winter. also, they are not demon hunters. they chase all evil away! this is why the bells are important. in some regions the costumes are made of the hair of special long-haired goats as you see in this video, but they all differ. each participant makes their own costume

[@Marsase]

Agreed

[@wolnysarmata3922]

Keep your ancestors tradition and your Motherland Bulgarian brothers . Greetings from Poland

[@a12storyasylum]

Well I can't believe I'm learning about Kukeri just now but better late than never! Truly incredible stuff

[@marie-marie9645]

As someone who lives in cold dark place majority of the year, learning about Kukeri dance & traditions lives true to its purpose. It has lifted my spirits. I love everything about what I have viewed and learned of the Kukeri tradition. I will think about this as I do my morning wake up dances. Movement is so important for our psyche and well being. Adding the costume and participating with friends and family makes this so special. I would love to live and experience this tradition in the near future.

[@Esmael822]

This is so beautiful and interesting to watch!! I gotta say we have a similar tradition in Morocco, North Africa. In the region of Souss, every Eid Adha (Islamic occasion), a bunch of people wear almost the same costume and celebrate in carnival. It's mind blowing to see this similarity shared across Europe and Africa!!

[@Silvia221b]

Do the costumes have a particular name ? I'm interested in finding out more about it but it's difficult to find anything 🙂 thank you!

[@Esmael822]

@@Silvia221b Oh yeah they are called ''Boujloud'' in Morocco. The name derives from the word ''Jloud'' which means ''goat or sheep skin'', and the word ''Bou'' which translates to ''father of''. I hope that helps!

[@guyrudy5]

Awesome! Such a beautiful and Bonding, cultural tradition.

[@SnowWhite717_]

Such a beautiful tradition of faith, hope and love in their lives that they share with their village and others. It’s really sad that this tradition is slowly going away, but as the old pass on or are unable the young aren’t as interested in these things and prefer modern things. It’s really wonderful to see this whole family participating in the tradition and keeping it alive. 😊❤

[@plamenailieva7]

Много добър клип! Дано все повече, да се снима и разпространяват традициите и красотите на България 🇧🇬 Радвам се, че вече и жени участват.

[@abbypitts3857]

What a beautiful, proud, powerful family!

[@vanessaprincesssa]

So proud to be a Bulgarian! ❤ Amazing film

[@sarahturner8678]

reaches pleasant corners of my mind, such beautiful everything about this, thank you!

[@jrzjnz7573]

This was semi-featured in a Lindemann video! How cool to learn more about Kukeri.

[@lustinlis413]

Well in the video you see Kukeri chasing Samodivi (Evil woman spirits of the woods)

[@atlantidaunderground]

I'm surprised there is a video about this. In Bulgaria most of the youth wants to celebrate Halloween which is a catholic celebration... and in orthodoxy we don't have this, our teachers used to say we have Kukeri, this is our Halloween :D

[@Vatras888]

Hallowen is pagan celtic tradition. Chatolic tradition have all saints day.

[@atlantidaunderground]

@@Vatras888 I was told this is similar to Halloween because it chases away all the evil spirits.

[@Vatras888]

@@atlantidaunderground Never heard of evil spirits in all saints day. Ortodox priests like to make fantasy stories about catholic customs xD

[@atlantidaunderground]

@@Vatras888 That's interesting. Need to research more then but I have read somewhere recently that it's about warding off evil ghosts. Yes, I know that Orthodoxy and Catholicism are similar but still have some big differences. Halloween is one of them... every year there's a big debate and drama about whether or not we should celebrate it because it goes against orthodoxy... and some of us do want to celebrate it.

[@katerinaorlinova371]

The problem is that all kids can dress theirselves in costumes for Halloween, but few can take part of the Kukeri shows. That is the difference! Kids want to be involved, not to be only part of the audience...

[@П.Велев]

Цяла България се гордее с вас...Продължавайте да поддържате живи нашите традиции :)

[@Zumbagirl517]

1:21 Where the girl was playing basketball 🏀 with her little bro pleasantly surprised how fun they have with each other! I’m not close to my big brother.

[@asdecopastarot]

Very very beautiful. Thank you

[@ИлианНенов]

Господ здраве да ви дава, за да се продължи тази прекрасна традиция, желая ви много успехи и щастие във всичко...

[@danielmarquez8550]

Simplemente Fantastico.

[@ForgingThought]

Awesome. This is an awesome video.

[@Zeratursa]

Прекрасни сте ! ЖИви и здрави и продължавайте все така !!!

[@angelaiskandarova]

these costumes look incredibly creepy and attractive at the same time

[@Zumbagirl517]

And look like fun to wear too! Swishing the hair!

[@Zumbagirl517]

The girl in the intro part reminds me of a volleyball 🏐 player or basketball player! She looks fit!!!

[@lingalook1]

Wow- Fantastik- thank you for shearing this.

[@simeonsimeonov5205]

Why it starts 6th century? It is much older...

[@varany3376]

It is most likely older, but we have no actual evidence of it being older.

[@ericowensnyc]

I WANNA BE A KUKERI!!!!!...kinda reminds me of Nick Caves SoundSuits. 🤔😎

[@theletterbleeds]

It might have been one of his inspirations

[@sarahturner8678]

I had the same exact thought! I am only saying this because it is nice to know someone else would have known what I was talking about.

[@sarahturner8678]

I also want to be a kuker.

[@MoonLight-eo4fm]

Ilike so much kukeri hair costume so very good

[@almudenavaradecordero7795]

Beautiful

[@Akkodha-]

I 100% support this

[@Johnkels100]

These traditions were developed in all cultures as a celebration and connection of our Devine consciousness, we must not lose any more. For me i am off to Pembrokeshire returning to the home of the stones for stone henge

[@DegreesOfThree]

A great way to give your neighbor's dog a heart attack.

[@nowness]

😂

[@bestmedicineismusic]

There are more of this "pagan leftovers" - for example the Swiss "tschäggättä"

[@gideonvandijk6149]

Beautiful! Where can I find more of Tim Laing’s music?

[@timlaing8674]

:) @timlaingfilm on insta

[@garyk8285]

Great video.

[@phlyphlo]

Not like I am evil spirit or anything, theses guys DID chase me out of Bulgaria....... What I could not sleep. Bulgairan Choir was the only thing that could lull me to sleep. I mean... so what I may had required them, I just get cranky.

[@64t120r]

I would love to have this tradition in the country I live in. Anyone know where to get long haired goat hides in the U.S.?

[@msaprofessionals2996]

Go to Bulgaria to celebrate or you come to the motherland Africa.

[@efectoyoga7]

EPIC!

[@zargonfuture4046]

👏👏👏

[@handlemonium]

Awesome

[@casz7098]

I love this

[@eburalik]

長生天Tengrism like how they dance.Kukeri sounds like Tenerife.

[@blablabla8975]

Fantastik

[@praszu]

Two more weeks, see you in Pernik.

[@ThatLadyBird]

Gonna need a magnifying glass to watch this unless you speak Bulgarian.

[@viniciusfelix2405]

wow!!!

[@toddaulner5393]

If I saw them in my woods I would be so freaked out!

[@moisiewe]

💩👖?

[@varany3376]

You would hear them from far away, because the bells are super loud, but scaring you (and then comforting you) is part of the custom.

[@angieseven5687]

once it came to happen that spirit woman lost her male walking on her path desperately feeling incomplete she took a rest underneath a tree and fell asleep while dreaming she heard a bird's melodic voice from inside the resting tree , saying , my beloved i am your heart to follow at she woke up , went up to walk the forest found fur and bell beneath a spring of water, so she dressed herself up with them stepped into the sun light and started dancing.....

[@eduardopadilla5505]

Interesting video!

[@theworld8237]

Omg , in north africa morocco exactly the middle of this country we have a similar carnaval that the Amazigh people of there « souss » do the sale carnaval and we call it « bilmawn» . It’s very old here , I meant there’s no way of imitation of yours we have it even before internet distribution Thats a vidéo of what I’m talking about kzbin.info/www/bejne/iajKfKSJf5l7pJo

[@Zumbagirl517]

Little boy has a sweet face!

[@Zumbagirl517]

4:24 skip-skip-skip-skip!

[@zhentaohe9962]

可爱的人儿

[@malikadtjah6361]

Iam here because of lindemann

[@vttfab4159]

Anti tristesse tonitruante et tonifiante

[@dadocraft]

🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬

[@ivankadinkova6232]

🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬

[@makybox]

Now we know where furries come from

[@imthkng1224]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@prettyprudent5779]

9:27 minutes of my life.

[@alvarovasquez5999]

This is ugly!

[@introvertdude842]

alright cultured man

[@yuhboris304]

Beautiful

[@makoto_saihara]

Beautiful