Masked Bulgarian dancers from the village of Kosharevo take part in the 28th International Festival of Masquerade Games “Surva” in the town of Pernik, Bulgaria Saturday, January 26, 2019. The carnival in the city of Pernik, attracted a record number of 7,500 participants from all over the country, as well as foreign dancers from across Europe. It marks the culmination of traditional winter festivities that are believed to date back to pagan times. (Photo by Valentina Petrova/AP Photo)





Mask dancers take part in a parade during the the International Festival of Masquerade Games “Surva” in the town of Pernik, some 30 km from Sofia, Bulgaria, 27 January 2019. (Photo by Vassil Donev/EPA/EFE)





Masked Bulgarian dancers from the village of Kosharevo take part in the 28th International Festival of Masquerade Games “Surva” in the town of Pernik, Bulgaria Saturday, Januaru 26, 2019. (Photo by Valentina Petrova/AP Photo)





Mask dancers take part in a parade during the the International Festival of Masquerade Games “Surva” in the town of Pernik, some 30 km from Sofia, Bulgaria, 27 January 2019. (Photo by Vassil Donev/EPA/EFE)





Mask dancers take part in a parade during the the International Festival of Masquerade Games “Surva” in the town of Pernik, some 30 km from Sofia, Bulgaria, 27 January 2019. In ancient times the old Thracians held the Kukeri Ritual Games in honor of god Dionysus – known as a god of wine and ecstasy. Even today these games are also known as the Dionysus' games. Among the Kukeri dancers' are many characters, including Dionysus and his satyrs as well as others from deep history such as the tsar, harachari, plyuvkachi, startzi, and pesyatzi. (Photo by Vassil Donev/EPA/EFE)





Mask dancers take part in a parade during the the International Festival of Masquerade Games “Surva” in the town of Pernik, some 30 km from Sofia, Bulgaria, 27 January 2019. (Photo by Vassil Donev/EPA/EFE)





A masked dancer from the Macedonian town of Prilep takes part in the 28th International Festival of Masquerade Games “Surva” in the town of Pernik, Bulgaria Saturday, Januaru 26, 2019. (Photo by Valentina Petrova/AP Photo)





Mask dancers take part in a parade during the the International Festival of Masquerade Games “Surva” in the town of Pernik, some 30 km from Sofia, Bulgaria, 27 January 2019. (Photo by Vassil Donev/EPA/EFE)





A masked dancer from the Macedonian town of Prilep takes part in the 28th International Festival of Masquerade Games “Surva” in the town of Pernik, Bulgaria Saturday, Januaru 26, 2019. (Photo by Valentina Petrova/AP Photo)





Dancers, known as “Kukeri”, perform on January 27, 2019 during the International Festival of the Masquerade Games in Pernik, near Sofia. The three-day festival, which started on January 25, has participants sporting multi-colored masks, covered with beads, ribbons and woolen tassels while the main dancer, ladened with bells to drive away sickness and evil spirits, sways like a wheat spikelet heavy with grain. (Photo by Nikolay Doychinov/AFP Photo)





Men dressed in costumes made of animal fur attend the International Festival of the Masquarade Games in Pernik, Bulgaria, January 27, 2019. (Photo by Stoyan Nenov/Reuters)





A masked Macedonian dancer takes part in the 28th International Festival of Masquerade Games “Surva” in the town of Pernik, Bulgaria Saturday, Januaru 26, 2019. (Photo by Valentina Petrova/AP Photo)





A dancer, known as “Kukeri”, prepare before performing on January 27, 2019 during the International Festival of the Masquerade Games in Pernik, near Sofia. (Photo by Nikolay Doychinov/AFP Photo)





Men, dressed in costumes made of animal fur hold their masks during the International Festival of the Masquarade Games in Pernik, Bulgaria, January 27, 2019. (Photo by Stoyan Nenov/Reuters)





Men, carry their masks made of animal fur, as they dance during the International Festival of the Masquarade Games in Pernik, Bulgaria, January 27, 2019. (Photo by Stoyan Nenov/Reuters)





A man, dressed in a costume made of animal fur dances during the International Festival of the Masquarade Games in Pernik, Bulgaria, January 27, 2019. (Photo by Stoyan Nenov/Reuters)