VOINYAGOVO VILLAGE'S KUKERI - COSTUME & DANCES
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The MaskThe decoration above the head of the Voinyagovo Village's Kuker (“kilyaf”) is the most characteristic and impressive part of the Kuker costume.
The basis of the “kilyaf” consist of a scaffold of pine or other light wood, which is attached to the body through specially tailored iron “straps”. They are set off with a leather belt across the chest. The “kilyaf” is with cloth with tassels on both sides and decorated. With sequins beads, old money, tassels, small mirrors, bunches. The sequins form figures such as eagles, flowers. They put lots of bracelets of beads there too. In Voinyagovo Village, there is a workshop where everybody can make those bead bracelets for themselves. They believe, there should be a mirror on the “kilyaf” because it will scare and chase away the evil ghosts coming in during the long winter evenings. The back of the “kilyaf” is covered by any fabric with harlequin. Just a Kuker has covered the back of his “kilyaf” with an embroidered cover with difficult making. They put coloured strings, braided of yarn on the kilyaf”. The Kukeri cover their faces with a mask of black fabric cloth with holes for the eyes decorated with sequins. The mask could be lifted or kept upon the face. |
The BellsThe Kukeri of Voinyagovo Village carry no more than three lines of “hlopki” (round-bellied bells). If the number of “hlopki” is higher they can be in two lines.
They put large and beautiful “hlopki” higher. The two big “hlopki” at the front have a decoration of carved dark leather alike a horse harness. The smaller “hlopki” are tied below the big ones in one or two lines. |
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ClothesThe Kuker costumes are in red, yellow, green, blue ie the more colourful the better.
The shirt is white of old-time design. On the sleeves there are bunches of threads: white, green, red, blue. Somewhere, they could put a “shihritche” too. Over the front of the shirt they put a jabot (“galosnik”) that looks like a baby bib however covers a part of the shoulders too. The jabots are usually white, and are to contribute to the beauty of the costume. The end of the jabot may be covered of old pennies, beads. They will always cover the shoulders with an old-time scarlet kerchief. Those kerchiefs have been inherited from the time of the Turkish ruling, when they were bought and kept in the old chests of the elderly women. There are still lots of people keeping such things in the village. Above the jabot, they put strings of Turkish gold pennies called “cordons”. However, the latter are not visible amongst the number of colourful decorations. Over the white shirt, the Kukeri wear a skirt and variegated pants tailored of home-woven cloth. The skirt ends with fringes. Sometimes, they may attach sequins instead of fringes which is also quite beautiful. The cloth for the skirt and the pants is a home-oven one of which they make traditional covers (“pribran mesal”). It is really picturesque and beautiful. Both skirt and pants of the Voinyagovo's Kukeri will be just worn on Kuker Day. |
The Voinyagovo's Kukeri have traditional moccasins (“tsarvuli”) but made of rubber instead of leather as that way they are more practical and durable.
In Hand
A WHIP
The long lashing whip is distinctive for the Kukeri of Voinyagovo Village.
It is made of woven long strips of sheepskin. Inside it there is also knitted a rope of cord or anything more solid.
The handle of the whip is of some strong wood either acacia or another. At its end, there is a bolt and piercing to tie the rope in order to prevent any coiling and enable the free operation with the whip.
The end of the whip is knitted of silk, which nowadays is hard to obtain, however in the past t was easy as they used to raise silkworms in the village. Some whips have also got a small mirror on the handle.
The long lashing whip is distinctive for the Kukeri of Voinyagovo Village.
It is made of woven long strips of sheepskin. Inside it there is also knitted a rope of cord or anything more solid.
The handle of the whip is of some strong wood either acacia or another. At its end, there is a bolt and piercing to tie the rope in order to prevent any coiling and enable the free operation with the whip.
The end of the whip is knitted of silk, which nowadays is hard to obtain, however in the past t was easy as they used to raise silkworms in the village. Some whips have also got a small mirror on the handle.
The whip gets worn quite quickly; it is torn after a few “thunders”, which especially concerns its silk end that actually emits the “thunder”. Now, just two hips have left in the village, while once there were many of them.
The operation of the whips is dangerous since the people around could be hit especially when the space is limited. Therefore, sometimes they save a few centimetres during its making exactly from the silk end.
The operation with the whip requires some mastery. The best master in this regard is the old Kuker Ivan Stefanov, the same who makes the best “kilyafs”. “When he deals with the whip, it emits a sound like from a gunshot.”
A KUKER-DOLL
Войняговските кукери носят навсякъде със себе си кукла-старец, изработена от дърво и облечена със старчевски костюм. Останала е една единствена и затова много внимават да не я забравят и загубят.The Kukeri of Voinyagovo always bring with them a Kuker-doll made of wood and dressed with a Kuker costume. There is just one left so they really take care not to forget and lose it. << Старец носи куклата-старец A Kuker carries the Kuker-doll |
Moves and Steps
At first, the Kukeri go round in a circle. The two Kukeri with whips put off the “kilyafs” (the decoration constructions above the head) as it is impossible to deal with the whips otherwise, “shot” with the whips, and put the “kilyafs” on again. The Kuker leader leads off the band, and they leave the scene.
The jangling of the Kukeri of Voinyagovo Village has the classical beat “one...-two..., one...-two.... It is slower.
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