This is a story about timelessness or, more precisely, about how the traditions of a beautiful and colorful custom have endured over time and have preserved their strength, beauty and originality for the younger generations. This is a story about beauty, symbolism, courage and perseverance of young people to preserve customs and preserve the richness of Bulgarian traditions.

One of the most popular traditions in the Bulgarian lands is mummers day. It is implemented in different regions of the country and according to some researchers this custom is more than 6000 years old. The meaning of the word mummer \in Bulgarian language -kuker\ it comes of Thracian origin and means tall, masked people. Traditionally, the costume of the mummer should include a 2-meter hat to create the impression of height. Creating a mummer costume is a real art. Costumes are decorated with multicolored threads, fabrics, mirrors and beads. The main color is red because it is associated with fertility, fire and sun. In Bulgarian folklore it is also believed that red protects against the evil eye. The white color is also the main color in mummers' costumes as a symbol of pure and good. Only the mask is sinister to scare away disease, evil and misfortune and leave the earth. The story says that in the period between the end of winter and the beginning of spring, the ancient Thracian tribes put masks on their faces and sent the months of darkness and cold, preparing symbolically for the new year and spring. This millennial, preserved and nowadays tradition we call Mummers day \Kuker’s day\. Kuker's Day is the oldest Bulgarian ritual carnival and certainly the most colorful and beautiful. The Mummers procession is a real carnival. There are different characters in it – mummer, King, Queen, Bride, Groom, Grandmother, Doctor, Donkey, Bear, Barber, Wax Driver, Gypsy, Pop, etc., and more recently a Policeman. The characters change according to the tradition of the village where it is recreated. In the beginning, mummers played only unmarried men, but today in the mummers games participate women, children and whole families. It is imperative that the mummers have bells and sticks with which to chase away evil spirits and to welcome spring. According to the belief, bells should be as noisy as possible to drive away evil forces and diseases. Early in the morning, all mummers gather at the home of the main mummer or in the neighborhood pub, where they prepare for hours by sewing their masks and costumes. The mummers are always accompanied by live music. When the mummers bells ring and the drums of the accompanying musicians get stuck, the adrenaline rises and there is universal fun. Despite the large, freezing cold typical for February, when the ritual is usually performed, the procession leaves early in the morning so the mummers can be able to walk around all the houses. The tour of the village by the mummers is always carried out in the direction east – north – west – south. Traditionally, the mummers have to enter every home and drive out evil spirits and diseases, jumping and releasing their bells and patting with sticks. The hosts meet the group in front of the door, serving food and wine. During the visit, all the mummers do their "job" upside down – the girl "clean", i.e. she scatters the house, the Barber "shaves", the Waxman "shines" shoes, the Gypsy "fixes", etc. However, everything is done backwards and the owner of the house should rather prevent the whites of his guests. The tour of homes ends in the southern part of the village, from where the group heads to the main square. There begins the second part of the carnival, where the whole village has gathered to watch the scenes played. All day the mummers run tirelessly with heavy bells on their waists, smearing with mud or lipstick people's faces for health. They chase and hang the crowd that follows them through the streets. Part of the games are also the stealing of the bride or grandmother mummer, in which all the mummers run after the thief and when they catch him and take back the bride or grandmother they do him all in mud. The custom ends with the symbolic plowing and sowing of the land, followed by mummers' struggles, where always the smallest mummer beats the big and strong mummers. After the land is ploughed, prepared and sown, cheerful chases and teases begin between the mummers and the crowd. The fun ends with the tearing of grandmother mummer's clothes. The beautiful photos I am sharing with you are just a small part of this year's mummers day in the Burgas district of Dolno Ezerovo. To honor and preserve customs and traditions is wonderful, but it is even more wonderful when the initiative for this comes from young people. Young people with spirit, undying strength and perseverance every year not only to keep the fire of the tradition, but also to develop and enrich it, investing time and money in more beautiful and lavish costumes. My family is part of this tradition. My grandfather was a mummer all his life, then my father, and this year the tradition continued my little daughter Adriana, who is only 7 years old.

The tradition of the mummers day teaches us to be united and supportive, to support ourselves as a group and community. It teaches us equality between the sexes. It teaches us to be constant and persistent in life, as the mummers are stubborn and do not throw away bells despite the fatigue of their weight and pelvis of suits. It teaches us to appreciate and cherish the Bulgarian, to take care of nature and to protect it as our ancestors did, plowing and sowing year after year the hard earth. I am happy to have the opportunity to touch this magic every year in February, to be part of this time-honored tradition and to help preserve it and sustain it over time.