SUSHITSA DISTRICT - KUKER DAY PROGRAMME
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- On Monday, Wednesday and Friday of the week before the Kukeri Day and Sirnitsa (the Bulgarian and Orthodox version of the Shrove Sunday), the Kukeri play throughout the village
- In the night of Saturday before Sirnitsa the so called “plashilki” (other masked which are not Kukeri) visit the houses with masks, bells and “hlopki” (round-bellied bells) to chase the evil
- On Sunday, Sirnitsa, after 12:00 there is a festivity on the square with performances by the female folk group and the dance group, individual masked (not Kukeri), Kukeri and a common horo (a traditional Bulgarian chain dance)
- After 17:00, the people have a dinner at each home with forgiveness taking (“proshka”) and “hamkane” (a children play where they try to catch a piece of white khalva by mouths).
Before SirnitsaThe Kukeri play every other day during the week before Sirnitsa (the Bulgarian and Orthodox version of the Shrove Sunday): on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
On Saturday night before Sunday, they will dress as “plashilki” ie with other costumes than the Kukeri ones consisting of whatever would be thought of and found. They will also put a mask on the face, bells, “hlopki” (round-bellied bells). However, the masks will be different: sometimes they are just the Kuker hoods on the heads and any clothes for instance women clothes for the men and vice versa. It will not always be possible to understand what the mask means, but they should be disguised and unrecognisable. The “plashilki” (other masked that are not Kukeri) will go round the houses and chase the evil. |
They will enter a house, jangle the bells and “hlopki”, play, be treated wine and “lukanka” (a traditional Bulgarian flat sausage), and then will go to the next house. They will just visit those house, where they know the householders would waiting for them.
Sirnitsa at NoonOn Sunday, they will gather at the school yard at about 12:00. The time beforehand will be for preparation and in order to enable those who will have visited the houses in the night to get some more sleep.
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Sirnitsa on the Square Afternoon
There will be music with a DJ on the square. Several years ago, they would hire live music too, however it would be more expensive.
The people will gather having heard the music, and also through the posters.
In Sushitsa District of Karlovo, plenty of people will go out for the feast. The district has 1200 residents, and all of them who are able to will go to celebrate together with their guests. Many people of Karlovo will come to the district either by public transport or by car.
The head of the local Chitalishte (the community cultural centre) will great the guests and open the feast. If the Karlovo Town's mayor or the Parliament member from Karlovo are present at the feast, they will also have a say.
The first performers will be the women vocal group and the dance group.
The individual masked will follow. The masked will be both children of the kindergarten and adults. Some of the masked which have been presented till now are as follows:
The people will gather having heard the music, and also through the posters.
In Sushitsa District of Karlovo, plenty of people will go out for the feast. The district has 1200 residents, and all of them who are able to will go to celebrate together with their guests. Many people of Karlovo will come to the district either by public transport or by car.
The head of the local Chitalishte (the community cultural centre) will great the guests and open the feast. If the Karlovo Town's mayor or the Parliament member from Karlovo are present at the feast, they will also have a say.
The first performers will be the women vocal group and the dance group.
The individual masked will follow. The masked will be both children of the kindergarten and adults. Some of the masked which have been presented till now are as follows:
- A large camel; they have got it ready as a mask and take it out almost each year. It is made of a wooden scaffold with leather and a head, and two people will wear it.
- Fairy tail personages
- Witches
- Something actual for instance masks refering to the garbage of the capital City of Sofia.
All the masked and especially the children will be given incentive prizes.
After the individual masks, the Kuker bands will pass. They will usually play for about two hours, and have rest every half hour for about 15 minutes without leaving the square.
The celebration ends with a common horo (a traditional Bulgarian chain dance) on the square.
After the individual masks, the Kuker bands will pass. They will usually play for about two hours, and have rest every half hour for about 15 minutes without leaving the square.
The celebration ends with a common horo (a traditional Bulgarian chain dance) on the square.
The students will have also come back home for the feast, and in many houses relatives from other settlements will have come too.
They will do the traditional “hamkane” for the children in the house (trying to catch a piece of white khalva by mouths).
The most typical traditional dish for Sirnitsa (the Bulgarian and Orthodox version of the Shrove Sunday is “covered eggs” or “eggs as eyes”: they break eggs over some boiling water, pour them with fried butter and sprinkle them with red pepper.
They will do the traditional “hamkane” for the children in the house (trying to catch a piece of white khalva by mouths).
The most typical traditional dish for Sirnitsa (the Bulgarian and Orthodox version of the Shrove Sunday is “covered eggs” or “eggs as eyes”: they break eggs over some boiling water, pour them with fried butter and sprinkle them with red pepper.
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