Bulgaria is an old country with a long history. Despite being ruled by other nations for centuries, Bulgarians were able to preserve their own cultural rituals. It was a way for the people to remain true to their Bulgarian culture and this sense of national pride is still evident today.
From the moment I arrived to Bulgaria, there was always a celebration to attend. Each festival has a different purpose, dress, song and food, which make it unique. Regardless of the event, everyone from the elderly to the young children attend. One of the most talked about festivals is called Сурва (Surva) and it is pronounced just like it looks, Sur-va! My Bulgarian friends told me that it was one of the most famous festivals. I could not wait to attend Surva!
Before I attended Surva, I was told that it is a festival with bells and masked dancers. But at Surva, I learned that there is much more to this tradition. It looked like a huge carnival with booths set up for masks, food and keepsakes. In addition, the outfits were much scarier than I imagined they would be. The masks are made to look like the faces of people showing their teeth and scowling! It looks like a creepy Halloween costume.
But Surva is not a Halloween festival; it is a New Year's festival.
