Images

“In gross outlines the animalistic costumes and themes are more pronounced in New Year’s customs, which are more common in mountainous and semi-mountainous regions, whereas the use of fabric and other materials is more evident in the late-winter/pre-spring events, which are more common in the plains. The costumes and timing thus reflect different economies. The centrality of pastoral activity in the hills and mountains makes the animal imagery more resonate and the materials more available, whereas the focus on agrarian activity in the plains economy makes material from crops like cotton or flax more available and meaningful….The different timing also fits with this correlation. Given that the rituals are intended to drive away evil and bring luck, it is interesting that one can associate the different periods of ritual practice with the especially dangerous times in the two different economies. The winter ritual falls just at the time when flock and herd animals are birthing, and the pre-spring rituals mark the transition to the growing season which can also be dangerous if early warmth sparks growth that is destroyed by late frosts.”

(Gerald W. Creed, Masquerade and Postsocialism: Ritual and Cultural Dispossession in Bulgaria)