Bulgaria has preserved the vitality of its folklore up until today. The distinctive traditional crafts, songs, dances and costumes are the best way to get in touch with the local folklore and traditions.

The Bulgarian crafts were in their heyday at the end of the 19th century. The most common were weaving, ceramic item making as well as making of decorations and clothing. Especially popular were the folk costumes that are a work of art, together with the traditional sandals. Wood-carving was widely applied not only to make household items, but also for decorations, including decoration of iconostases. 

Other Bulgarian crafts include pottery-making, making of rugs and bags out of goat fur and leather-working. Among the most interesting participants in the traditional holidays are the so-called „Kukeri”. They are carnival personages dressed as beasts or other characters, always wearing masks and often cow-bells on their belts and coats with their fur inside out. A gathering of the kukeri is organized on the 1st of January, during the New Year celebrations. Young and old people dress in folk costumes, put on masks and start to chase away the evil spirits. The games and customs of the kukeri are performed by males only, most of them bachelors. Every group of kukeri has a leader who is the only married man, i. e. a householder with an established social status. In Eastern Bulgaria you will know the leaders by their bride and groom costumes. In the other parts of Bulgaria the leaders are dressed in goat, sheep, or roe skins, with leather masks on their heads, or with faces covered in soot.

It is thought that the most ancient masks are the ones depicting a ram, a goat and a bull. The impression made by the masked kukeri is enhanced by the sound of the copper and bronze bells hanging from their costumes.

The Surva international gathering of the kukeri in the city of Pernik is the most famous one, with guests from all over the world coming to experience the performance’s magic; to see and touch the masks, to feel rejuvenated, to make their wish for good health and good luck.

One of the most mystic and impressive traditional rituals is fire dancing. Fire dancing is an ancient Bulgarian and Greek custom consisting of people dancing barefoot over burning charcoal. The custom is preserved in its authentic form in the village of Balgari situated in the Strandzha Mountain, but it can be also found in other Bulgarian villages. The fire dancers perform in the evening of St. Constantine and Helena’s day. On that day, three adolescents take the icons to the sacred spring near the village along with a procession led by the fire dancers. All inhabitants participate in the procession. The icons are sanctified and a horo dance is performed, accompanied by drums and bagpipes.

The procession walks through the entire village and the fire dancers go to a chapel. They remain there until the evening, listening to the constant beating of a drum in a specific rhythm that makes them enter a trance stage after which they start dancing. A fire is lit on the square and is maintained all day. At dusk, the fire is spread out to uncover the burning charcoals. The oldest fire dancers step over the burning charcoals first, circling around them three times beforehand, and then passing through them crosswise. After that, the real dance begins, the fire dancers step into the ring of fire with a shrill cry. While dancing, they are holding the icon of St. Constantine and Helena which is decorated with flowers. What is remarkable is that after the ritual, the fire dancers have no wounds or burns on their feet. This represents the greatest magic of fire dancing.

Another interesting event with fans all over the world is the Rose Holiday. It is traditionally organized during the first national holidays of June in the city of Kazanlak, a center of rose growing and processing. The festivities open with the rituals of rose picking and rose brewing performed by girls in multicolored folk costumes. The feast unravels with a festival procession from the rose gardens to the central square, where the „Queen of Roses”, the most beautiful girl of the year, is selected with a contest. Wearing a rose wreath and showered with flowers, she welcomes the guests that came for the feast. Then a bright-colored and cheerful celebration with a lot of singing and dancing begins. The folklore part of the feast ends with a horo dance.