Over 10 thousand bells of various sizes and intensity are ringing in Yambol today, during this year’s Masquerade festival.

39 groups from all sides of Bulgaria and guests from Slovenia, Turkey and Macedonia applied to participate in the colorful festivities. For the first time ever, this year the kukeri (traditional dancers) will pass through the districts and Yambol and won’t restrict themselves to the main square. This is just one of the many surprises the festival has in store.

The participants in the competitive part of the festival – kukeri, jamali, babugeri, startsi, brazai and other representatives of a specific region – will be appraised by a jury that includes famous Bulgarian ethnologists and folklore experts. Two French folklore specialists – Jeanne Roch, chairman of the French association for traditional culture and Pierre Julien – leader of the international project “Masks and masquerades – the many-faced visage of Europe” will be special guests of the event.