The deafening drumbeats start early in the morning, heralding the arrival of hundreds of people who descend on the sleepy northern Romanian city of Comanesti dressed head to toe as bears, in costumes made from real fur, with the heads attached. They emerge from minibuses or even freight vans, growling as they dance. It's a tradition that originated in pre-Christian times, when dancers wearing colored costumes or animal furs went from house to house in villages, singing and dancing to ward off evil. It has also moved to Romania's cities, where the ritual is performed for money. Tradition holds that a bear in the yard of a house means good fortune. In Comanesti, in the eastern part of Romania, the dance took place on the final day of a weeklong festival of winter traditions held between Christmas and New Year's. A bear fur costume for an adult, with the head included, weighs up to 40 kilograms (88 pounds) and costs up to 2,000 euros ($2,400). Prices increased after the introduction of EU regulations controlling bear hunting. Locals fear the tradition may disappear as large numbers of young Romanians leave the area looking for better lives in wealthier European Union countries. But Tudor Huluta, an 8-year-old who has never lived in Romania, offered some hope that the ritual will survive. His Romanian family lives in Britain, but he insisted they return to take part in this year's event. Here: In this Thursday, December 28, 2017, picture Raluca Atrejei, wearing a bear fur costume, looks at an item in a Christmas fair, in Piatra Neamt, Romania. (Photo by Vadim Ghirda/AP Photo)





In this Saturday, December 30, 2017, picture, Cleopatra Antonia Turcu, 10 years-old, wearing a bear fur costume pauses next to Georgiana Andresoaie, during an annual bear parade in Comanesti, Romania. The tradition, originating in pre-Christian times, when dancers, wearing colored costumes or animal furs, went from house to house in villages singing and dancing to ward off evil, has moved to Romania's cities, where the ritual is performed for money. (Photo by Vadim Ghirda/AP Photo)





In this Saturday, December 30, 2017, picture Raluca Atrejei stretches her hands during an annual bear parade in Comanesti, Romania. (Photo by Vadim Ghirda/AP Photo)





In this Saturday, December 30, 2017 picture Raluca Atrejei, right, helps Roxana Stan, apply lipstick as they get ready for an annual bear parade in Comanesti, Romania. (Photo by Vadim Ghirda/AP Photo)





In this Thursday, December 28, 2017, picture people wearing a bear fur costumes walk under Christmas decorations in Piatra Neamt, Romania. (Photo by Vadim Ghirda/AP Photo)





In this Saturday, December 30, 2017, picture a man wearing a bear fur costume kisses his girlfriend during an annual bear parade in Comanesti, Romania. (Photo by Vadim Ghirda/AP Photo)





In this Saturday, December 30, 2017 picture people watch an annual bear parade in Comanesti, Romania. Hundreds of people descend on the sleepy northern Romanian city of Comanesti every year dressed head to toe like bears, in costumes made from real fur, with the heads attached. (Photo by Vadim Ghirda/AP Photo)





In this Saturday, December 30, 2017 picture people wearing a bear fur costumes make their way through the crowds during an annual bear parade in Comanesti, Romania. It's a tradition that originated in pre-Christian times, when dancers wearing colored costumes or animal furs went from house to house in villages, singing and dancing to ward off evil. (Photo by Vadim Ghirda/AP Photo)





In this Saturday, December 30, 2017, picture men, one wearing a bear fur costume, hug during an annual bear parade in Comanesti, Romania. (Photo by Vadim Ghirda/AP Photo)





In this Saturday, December 30, 2017 picture a girl wearing a bear fur costume gets ready for the start of the annual bear parade in Comanesti, Romania. (Photo by Vadim Ghirda/AP Photo)





In this Saturday, December 30, 2017 picture, Roxana Stan, top, braids Raluca Atrejei's hair as they get ready for an annual bear parade in Asau, Romania. (Photo by Vadim Ghirda/AP Photo)





In this Saturday, December 30, 2017, picture a man wearing a bear fur costume approaches a young spectator during an annual bear parade in Comanesti, Romania. (Photo by Vadim Ghirda/AP Photo)





In this Thursday, December 28, 2017, picture Roxana Stan, top, supports 9 year-old Florin Paduceanu as they take a brake from the parade, in Piatra Neamt, Romania. (Photo by Vadim Ghirda/AP Photo)





In this Thursday, December 28, 2017, picture Roxana Stan sits on a bus with her bear fur costume in Piatra Neamt, Romania. (Photo by Vadim Ghirda/AP Photo)





In this Saturday, December 30, 2017, picture Tudor Huluta, an 8-year-old, who returned from Britain to attend the parade, wears a bear fur costume while dancing in Asau, Romania. (Photo by Vadim Ghirda/AP Photo)





In this Thursday, December 28, 2017, picture children wearing bear fur costumes pose at a Christmas fair, in Piatra Neamt, Romania. (Photo by Vadim Ghirda/AP Photo)





In this Saturday, December 30, 2017, picture a man wearing a bear fur costume screams while dancing in Comanesti, Romania. (Photo by Vadim Ghirda/AP Photo)





In this Saturday, December 30, 2017, picture a girl wearing a bear fur costume takes part in an annual bear parade in Comanesti, Romania. (Photo by Vadim Ghirda/AP Photo)





In this Saturday, December 30, 2017 picture children wearing a bear fur costumes pause during an annual bear parade in Comanesti, Romania. (Photo by Vadim Ghirda/AP Photo)