KUKERI

Kukeri is an ancient Bulgarian tradition practiced during the winter holidays to drive away evil spirits and bring fertility and protection to the villages. Dressed in fearsome masks with large horns, animal skins, and bells, the Kukeri perform ritual dances imbued with magical power.

For young Ivan, this night was going to be special - it was his first journey as a Kuker. This was meant to be his proof of courage and his path to acceptance among the adults. But instead of pride, Ivan felt the heavy weight of fear and responsibility.

When the elder led the group through the darkness toward the abandoned village, the night came alive with eerie shadows and the whispers of the wind. Ivan began to sense that his fears might not be unfounded. Trembling under the weight of his mask, he wondered:
What if the evil spirits they were driving away weren't just a legend?