See the Intricate Costumes of Bulgaria’s Kukeri Dancers | National Geographic

Around early winter or midwinter, groups of kukeri (pronounced KOO-kuh-ree) don elaborate costumes-complete with fantastical masks and belts of massive metal bells-and accompany musicians throughout the village, dancing rhythmically to drive away evil and invite good.
➡ Subscribe: bit.ly/NatGeoSubscribe
About National Geographic:
National Geographic is the world's premium destination for science, exploration, and adventure. Through their world-class scientists, photographers, journalists, and filmmakers, Nat Geo gets you closer to the stories that matter and past the edge of what's possible.
Get More National Geographic:
Official Site: bit.ly/NatGeoOfficialSite
Facebook: bit.ly/FBNatGeo
Twitter: bit.ly/NatGeoTwitter
Instagram: bit.ly/NatGeoInsta
For more information, read "Surreal Pictures Show Bulgaria’s Masked Dancers Warding Off Evil Spirits."
www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destinations/europe/bulgaria/kukeri-survakari-unesco-intangible-cultural-heritage-photos
See the Intricate Costumes of Bulgaria’s Kukeri Dancers | National Geographic
kzbin.info/www/bejne/iYisfGOJm7lng9k
National Geographic
kzbin.info

[@NatGeo]

The kukeri dancers wear dramatic masks and costumes that often symbolize the landscape and lifestyle of their region. What intrigues you the most about this kukeri practice?

[@Tuturutka]

The most intriguing is that it is a tradition kept for many centuries and still alive in a modern country in the middle of Europe. Nice video!

[@0urMutualFriend]

Looks very African

[@RositsaPetrovarjp7]

no they do not symbolize the landscape and the lifystyle.please learn about the origin of this ritual....symbolizing the new beginning, transformation...they chase away the evil spirits and bless the new seeds...this is why these rituals were performed by young men in the beginning of the year...there is also a ritualistic wedding reenacted by participants...by dressing in these scary outlandish outfits participants are also transforming themselves and their surrounding...it is a form of shamanistic collective ritual going beyond the ordinary..nothing to do with landscapes or lifestyles...

[@a.yozova7882]

@@0urMutualFriend Slavic!!

[@mt7048]

Parallels with ceremonies from Indigenous Nations in North America

[@akazaynab]

I love Bulgaria! Sending love from Poland 🇵🇱❤

[@musicassassinlab.5607]

Sending my Love to Poland too! I spend couple of great months in a city near Warsaw named Pjaseczno! I have made great friends there and have warm and lovely memories! Greatings from Bulgaria 🇧🇬🤍💚❤️

[@ivaandkristaplay7747]

Sending my love to Poland too❤ From a girl in Bulgaria🇧🇬❤️

[@KristiqnIvanov]

Bulgaria forever ❤

[@awaisbinsaeed]

What is the title of the music in the begining

[@kalinamalina7710]

@@awaisbinsaeed шшшшшшшшлшюшшлъ cw g+gvggggggțrrr-2wh I t

[@user-yn8du8wr1o]

@@kalinamalina7710 хаха да нещо подобно :D

[@AzlianaLyana]

Is that you Chewie? Jokes aside, those are some really detailed and well designed costumes. Interesting culture. Thanks National Geographic for sharing.

[@amarkova84]

most of the time that costumes and in particular the head ones, are so heavy that can weight 5-6 kg (in the best case :) )

[@jainamaden156]

Magnificent. How wonderful and stoic to keep you culture through all to this day.

[@lyubomirhristov418]

Jaina Maden this is Bulgaria this is where i come from so thats very unique traditions in the end of winter and when your mask need to be ugly this is how you cover your family from evils its just once after new year in first day of January

[@e.s.l.1083]

Technically, they haven't kept the culture 'to this day' (one can not keep a thing and alter it) @ 1:08 & @ 1:21 (Its just algrebra)

[@SpyralStormTeacup]

❤Well (and beautifully and correctly) said! ❤❤❤

[@Nutmeg-]

We in Austria have something similar called "Teufeltag" or Krampus' Day :) People run around in furs and costumes made out of hay while wearing demonic masks. This is also done to chase away evil winter spirits.

[@user-hj2nk6nj6w]

This is old pelasgian-thracian bulgarian ritual which other nation took also. Ulpian write: those who make a procession in honor of Dionysus have a custom to change their appearance in order to resemble his companions, some like satires, others as bacchanas, others as mighty. Dionysus is original thracian god

[@DerBulgaremitdeutschepass]

In germany is teufeltag devils day

[@Powersnufkin]

In norway its called ''julebukk.'' christmas goat. people would dress up and chase bad spirits out of peoples barns for a treat.

[@galia27lol]

My country 😊♥️🇧🇬

[@stasiabv6]

Hello from Bulgaria! Thank you, National Geographic for sharing a part of our culture! ♥

[@user-lw7iq7md1n]

Да благодарим на този,който е дал това видео на предаването,за да видят България

[@shaunmckinney521]

1:20 I like how everyone else is wearing these huge elaborate masks and there's that one guy with a plastic Dollar store mask

[@wrinkliestdog]

He deserves a participation award

[@MacCionnaith]

I love Bulgarian music and culture

[@bellaworku619]

thank you for sharing traditions all around the world

[@Nicholas.Tsagkos]

My father in Thrace, Evros did this once, he dressed with similar clothes and had big metal bells. i've seen it in a video. some of these customs are thousands of years old and maybe even before the god Dionysos, from the time when paganism was the popular cult, 5000-10000 years ago.

[@vasil.kamdzhalov]

Interesting to know the father's story. For the tradition we assume it is Thracian or even older.

[@bgbest5790]

Yes it is of Bulgarian/Thracian origin🇧🇬 amazing world 🌏❤️

[@kadirgules1823]

Cuz its thracian tradition

[@bearheart2009]

This seemed so random, but all the more attractive and interesting for it. This is the kind of 'local culture' im looking for in a holiday.

[@plamkatahm7012]

BULGARIA !!!!

[@euhabarnam]

Proto-european Haplogroup I2 is stretching from East Germany to the West to Moldova to the East, from Eastern Ukraine to the North to Northern Greece to the South. This is the basin of similar pre-christian traditions that still resist until today. It include ancient tribes of thracians, illyrians, getae, dacians, sarmatians, all of wich ancient greek settlers called "pelasgians" (people from the land, aboriginals to pre-greek Europe). No, they are not celtic, they are similar to scandinavians (Haplogroup I1) wich means they are before celtic invasion of Europe (the only haplogroup emerged on the continent after the last glacial age). - Halubian bell-ringers in Croatia; - Busojaras in Hungary; - Kukeri in Bulgaria; - Malanka in Ukraine; - Mascați in Romania and Moldova; ... all of these winter-pagan traditions have the same roots in pre-greek history, in ancient times before written history. Folklore also, mythology / bedtime stories also. What we see in this clip is thracian culture and slavic culture mixed together to form an European real tradition, a true multiculturalism by definition. No, we don't need artificial multiculturalism in Europe, WE ARE MULTICULTURAL BY NATURE.

[@deniz2783]

There is a suggestion of spreading this custom from Cucuteni-Tripolina culture

[@wakefulday]

Fascinating, can you recommend any good reads on this?

[@MarioTodorovBG]

I liked very much your comment! That was properly wirtten! 👏

[@msmicheal2321]

Wow... Beautiful! Thx NatGeo✌

[@WitchyWhale]

I first spotted the Kukeri Dancers from the Lindemann song "Fish On."

[@Christinenyc2480]

love the music.

[@stef4okenef4o10]

Right

[@MaybejustNarbe]

This does something to my heart and soul… I can’t wait to go.

[@tanpar8805]

Thanks for this video National Geographic! A festival of the Old World from neolithic time. I'm a Bulgarian and like to say that the festival is the same from Sardinia to Ukraine. Of course in Bulgaria today the festival is most attractive.

[@bgbest5790]

This is of Thracian aka Bulgarian origin, other countries in Europe have similar traditions which come from the ancient populations in Europe. Amazing world🌏

[@andrenesia]

as Indonesian we have the similar things, same majestic figure and it's so wonderful how overseas nations have the same

[@tjreid2517]

Thank you National Geographic.. For keeping me informed and educated on customs globally.. Sincerely Tanja

[@chickenfeetfordinner5804]

Amazing, I had no idea these characters existed in Bulgaria

[@iskanderyou8835]

In Algeria there is an area called Kabyle , they have the same customs and traditions with belgaria kabile , so the assets are same with kabile belgaria

[@bendimeradmokhtar1585]

جزائرية عربية hhhh game over lol

[@user-hy2wr7gy6i]

@Maia A. Actually yes. Gypsies came from India. But those who came to Algeria are orginally from the gypsies of kabyle (a city in Bulgaria) and in algeria their city or region hold the same name which is kabyle too.

[@RositsaPetrovarjp7]

@@user-hy2wr7gy6i except the people from Kabyle do not look Roma but European

[@nicocraft7658]

You're kidding! All the peoples of North Africa are of Berber origin, conquered by the Arabs and have adopted the Arabic language. Algeria, Libya, Morocco.Gypsies from all over Europe are more similar to the Arabs than to the Kabylia people, probably of European origin

[@iskanderyou8835]

@@nicocraft7658 I'm from north africa exactly algeria and I'm Arab ...... Amazigh is not fact ..... And the real berber is tuareg black people ....

[@v.ra.]

Come see them in Bulgaria this February. We need this amazing tradition to consider on 💟

[@Martrobotico]

what is the best place in bulgaria to see Kukeri? which town or city?

[@isellcrack3537]

@@Martrobotico Pernik is probably the best place to visit as a tourist since it`s one of the bigger (or biggest) gatherings and it`s right next to the capital of Sofia.

[@TheNemesisRM]

@@isellcrack3537which days of February they do the parade?

[@isellcrack3537]

@@TheNemesisRM This year it`s going to take place on the 28th of January. It does not have a set date and each year it`s different because it`s celebrated 49 days (7 weeks) before Easter (Orthodox) and it marks the last day before the Great Fast.

[@TheNemesisRM]

@@isellcrack3537 thank you soooo much! I’d really like to go see the event but didn’t really find info about the dates

[@lyubomirhristov418]

I am proud Bulgarian this is very very old and unique tradition once or twice in the year its not about the soviet or comunistic this is old like a thousand years this dance is barberian we are cristians but its part of our history so this is our honor for the past.With this dance our acestors chase the evil spirit and you need to wear ugly mask or bells as long as you with the most uglyest mask you are like a lider of all this guys ...God Bless Bulgaria i love this dances some of the costumes are 70 kg with the bells this guys start training 6 months before you need to be very strong to dance 6 hours with this clothes

[@awaisbinsaeed]

What is the music title

[@mimydiallo]

thats crazy we also have that in senegal its called coumpo

[@samysaid7265]

Myh Ah I was thinking this looks very similar to some African tribes' aesthetics.

[@mimydiallo]

samy yes this is incredible how cultures are actually so close to each other one way or another

[@NikeBG]

I've seen similar traditions from Ireland and the UK to Asia and, indeed, Africa. There are considerable regional differences and adaptations, of course, but the basis remains. I'm thinking it's probably one of the oldest surviving rituals, common to nearly all human cultures.

[@radou97]

Thank you for showing our tradition

[@vasilzhekov9245]

I'm from Bulgaria! yaaaayyy

[@user-vc7tu9xb5b]

Аз също

[@logicandreason3812]

What is the name of the instrument at the beginning next to the drums?

[@nicobellic1326]

Аз също!!!

[@georgipetkov5077]

Аз също

[@varsam]

+Logic and Reason bagpipe

[@Silent-Killer11]

WOOWWWW. I LOVE IT.😳😳😳😳 AMAZING.

[@KitBoxbd]

*Wow what a nice dance!*

[@Vera-wl7fy]

When you are a kid, these things are very scary, especially if the guys love their job... Lol Also, the slow motion of the kukerite gives me bad flashbacks * shudders * ughh

[@muzwot9603]

Fanstastic, a feast for the eyes ansd ears!

[@nicobellic1326]

I am from Bulgaria!!!

[@awaisbinsaeed]

What is the song titlw

[@satanismoverde]

what is the name of the song. i loved

[@kk.k1xs]

Bulgaria! ❤️❤️

[@annisafitri9183]

Wow, amazing !

[@NatGeo]

Isn't this fascinating, Annisa? Some rituals even take on elements of a mock wedding, where a symbolic bride and groom go from house to house, accepting monetary gifts in exchange for bestowing blessings.

[@MechaniFUN]

That is awesome

[@tacos394]

Beautiful costumes

[@HeathenDance]

AWESOME.

[@kristenlynn8819]

I was born in sofia bulgaria and got adopted and am wanting to know more about my roots

[@kristenlynn8819]

@V V that is so cool! I never even realized all that! I was 3 years old when I was adopted from Sophia, Bulgaria. I moved to America and grew up in New Jersey. Most of my life. Definitely get the craving to learn about my culture more! Thank you for letting me know about all this. This is pretty cool!

[@JohnSmith-nc9ep]

Dang! I do believe I just got cultured , thanks :D

[@lekshmykothandaraman9937]

Thank you

[@blazingstar9638]

This reminds me of pow wow in Canada in some ways, they even also have jingle dresses! 😊wow!

[@RedTheCrusader]

We got something really similiar here in Sardinia too, we call them "Mamuthones"

[@Micutzu99]

Is a Traco-Geto-Dacian tradition!!!

[@obadiahbenyahuwah1365]

Looks like West African traditions

[@stans64]

The ancient Bulgarians were Celto-Sarmatians.

[@mariuscentauri506]

yep

[@seraphime1986]

More accurate Celto-Sarmatians were ancient Bulgarians!

[@serggla924]

stans64 what? The Thracian/Dacian language and culture have nothing to do with celts aside from them both being indo-European. And even that is debated because not everyone believes that Thracian and Dacian were indoeuropean languages. Genetically the Balkan regions have the most pre indo-European hunter gatherer dna in the form of haplogroup I2. Also Scandinavians have a lot of this Haplogroup but in the form of I1

[@scarletpeoni9347]

I wonder if the illustrator of where the wild things are got their inspiration from the costumes at 0.48 Those first ones are scary af I need one to deter burglars.

[@NewMessage]

Cousin It's heritage confirmed.

[@sevt8223]

Wow need more info for this,pls make 2hr video ;)

[@DianitaYoutube]

I would like to show this to the people in North America, see? There is people using traditional clothing, furs and feathers also headdress, is not something exclusive to native Americans. Because the moment they see a single feather they scream "cultural appropriation"

[@casz7098]

I love this

[@logicandreason3812]

The songs sound awesome. Are there names or origins of them? Could someone help me out?

[@maria_____.]

that's just bulgarian folk music

[@logicandreason3812]

flower boy but that song in the beginning has no specific name?

[@megadioz]

i'm looking for that song too ;-;

[@lyubomirhristov418]

Just bulgarian specific song only for south of this cuntry i am from the north and there is more crazy and unique dances this is once in the year when whe move out our evils our pain out from the houses and familys we are Cristians but this is not cristian tradition is barberian but is our honor for our ancestors

[@lyubomirhristov418]

Logic and Reason the instrument is bagpipe or Kaba Gaida i will try to find that song for you

[@gosho0]

The music is amazing...

[@faysalmacit]

How can i find this music?

[@WeTrippyMane2]

​@@faysalmacit Is simple searching for Bulgarian folklore music

[@Kyuka]

what is the first song with the drums? I want a MP3 of the full thing. it is so beautiful :o

[@smag-6096]

that music is beautiful

[@adodpluminade6816]

Cool

[@dannylo5875]

Awesome

[@sarahmurphy6759]

Reminds me of some of the rites I have read about in the Golden Bough, a great book. It makes me sad also to think how boring modern life is and so alienating. Imagine communities today dancing like this outside. There is such a hunger for this today.

[@idoalittletrolling4867]

I'm glad to see the christianization didn't desecrate and ruin this tradition, it's absolutely beautiful!

[@valentinaderiu2746]

Kukeri are very similar to the mammuntones of Mamoiada in Sardegna .

[@kitosdigiovanni5926]

Great hair band.

[@AstonMartin_007]

Bulgaria❤️💪

[@sergiokosic]

Beautiful and scary at the same time. I've seen similar costumes in Slovenia and Croatia, called Kurenti and Koranti. I'm guessing it's an old Slavic pagan tradition.

[@huskytail]

It's not Slavic, it's Southern and Central European. In the Balkans it's associated with the Thracian Dionysos games but it's very highly probable it might predate them.

[@misaelsaidlopezrivero6118]

I come here for dead can dance love it

[@blazingstar9638]

Yess!🎉🎉

[@Wrexywrex328]

Fish on, Bulgaria.

[@Tegugur]

there are almost an identical dance from the dayak tribe in borneo but they are using banana leaves as their costume the dance is called "Hudoq" you can google it

[@user-yk6qp7mn3t]

The best

[@tayrantart]

I´m getting crazy trying to get the name of that song, is magnificent!

[@faysalmacit]

Did u find the music ? I really.need it

[@tayrantart]

@@faysalmacit not yet...

[@Chamurjiev]

​@@tayrantart Me too, and I am Bulgarian :)

[@luckyamp1]

Wow

[@kujobeatsofficial]

anyone know what music that first one is?

[@davidmorales5718]

What kinda of wind instruments were used during the ritual. They sounded amazing!!

[@scythianking7315]

Bulgarian Bagpipes I believe

[@huskytail]

It's called zurna. It's an ancient Eastern Mediterranean instrument. It is traditionally used instead of a bagpipe in some areas in Bulgaria.

[@xniky2588]

❤!!!

[@He-is-Center]

Looks like the things that were in Thor Ragnarok promo, but not in the movie

[@foodchewer]

Beautiful. It makes me sad that, at least to my American eyes, most of Western Europe left their ancient traditions behind for "civility" or whatever they call it

[@Powersnufkin]

we have this in scandinavia and germany too. Its mostly americans who have lost their culture.

[@taodivinity1556]

You prefer the times when it was about pillaging and r*ping?

[@foodchewer]

@@taodivinity1556 hey touche my friend

[@Powersnufkin]

@@taodivinity1556 No, i prefer the time of trade and exploration. what is wrong with you? yuck.

[@taodivinity1556]

@@Powersnufkin You can thank Christianity for that.

[@crystalgz3504]

REAL FURRIES

[@anonhomie4049]

Brazilian Remy💅😍

[@Tacsmoker]

looks like an episode of the mighty boosh

[@user-yh7tj6uk1m]

БЪЛГАРИЯ!

[@johncarlton7289]

What kind of instrument is playing in the background? It sounds like a woodwind or stringed instrument. Also, is there a name to the song? Where did it come from?

[@user-nz2vk9rq6y]

The higher sound is from an instrument called zurna. It look like a primitive clarinet. The song doesn't have a name and has is different variation throughout the regions.

[@johncarlton7289]

@@user-nz2vk9rq6y Thank you for that answer. I really, really appreciate it. I have been trying to figure out the answer to that question for a while now. Do you know of any other videos containing that instrument, or other versions of that song on KZbin?

[@user-nz2vk9rq6y]

@@johncarlton7289 try typing kukersky pesni which means kukerian songs and you would get result for this type of songs.

[@zml29]

Wow similar to Liberian Kpelleh devil... the world is so close...

[@noger1234]

@Yo Mama’s Gun wth does this mean

[@vendettashadowz]

@Yo Mama’s Gun dont forget our history(Bulgarian) is more than 1300 years.

[@ubereatscoachingpro3241]

The music played here has no name, it's traditionnal bulgarian music played with zurn and tapan, typical from south Bulgaria

[@user-hy2wr7gy6i]

What do you mean by zurn? Because in Algeria we have a type of music called zurna, i think is a turkish word since we were colonized by the Ottmamian.

[@vgao5705]

First time I saw the chewie costume it was in the German film Toni Erdmann.

[@romania1918]

We romanians pelasgs have "mascații" too. Its very simmilar

[@lopazio]

The same as Careto tradition in Portugal!!!!

[@Elmerherrera89]

Now I know where cousin IT was from

[@avocattiberiuilie1515]

Name of the first song, please?

[@milenushka100]

Thee is no song, just traditinal instrumental music.

[@youreakeyboardwarrior3624]

Let's all dress like IT from the Adams family for a day 😂

[@kolelokaram8541]

Keyboard Warrior Let IT dress like kukeri for a few movies.

[@youreakeyboardwarrior3624]

Hristin Andonov touché

[@fluteboiz8912]

They look so much like Hopi Kachina

[@b_uppy]

In North America they would be called S'quatches

[@AndrewHQZ]

Same in Romania 😮😮😮

[@casz7098]

Does anyone know where I can get one of these costumes? I can't find anything online. I guess I'll have to go visit Bulgaria someday.

[@borislaw6768]

You can buy it only from Bulgaria. There are 4-5 costumes now for sale. The festival is on 13th and 14th january in Pernik. It's close to Sofia around 50 km so the airport is close.

[@ddi3852]

Those costumes are not produced commercially, and thank God for that. The costumes are all unique and handmade by the dancers(Kukeri) themselves and represent each individual's artistic ability. They are a source of great pride to the owner-dancer. So it's really hard to find them for sale.

[@tree-huggersans-cur4371]

Wow reminds me of IAMAMIWHOAMI's trippy series of videos for their album Kin. Somewhat...

[@faysalmacit]

How can i find this music on backround?

[@awaisbinsaeed]

Please some 1 tell me the first song...

[@zvonimirkucan1984]

Every Slavic country has similar customs of bell ringers. Their purpose is always the same and they ring their bells in similar time of the year (end of winter). Due to harsh political and economic situations from ages past, local peasants had to find a way to accuse something or someone for their bad luck so usually it was the demons and evil spirits who got accused. Bellmen would drove them off. We have "Zvončari" in Rijeka, Croatia. This custom is ancient and we tend to preserve it.

[@2763e]

POV: *Роден си в България и виждаш това в Варна*

[@jeliomir]

I remember them since I was 3 years old!

[@prolet9282]

Im Bulgarian