Alexander Prolygin's photos

The Kuker games are held in various Bulgarian cities from January 1 to the end of February. This is a pagan tradition, and so ancient that it is difficult to determine exactly when the first Kukers appeared. Thracian customs mixed with the fun of the Bacchus worshipers, then the Slavs arrived with their habits and deities. Well, and then the Proto-Bulgarians arrived and somehow supplemented the existing rituals. This is how the traditions were formed, and then they gradually developed, and even the Ottoman yoke did not interfere with this too much. Modern Bulgarian kukers dance in the streets to scare away evil spirits and drive away winter, and to ensure that the year brings health and fertility, they perform various rituals.

The Kuker games are held in various Bulgarian cities from January 1 to the end of February. This is a pagan tradition, and so ancient that it is difficult to determine exactly when the first Kukers appeared. Thracian customs mixed with the fun of the Bacchus worshipers, then the Slavs arrived with their habits and deities. Well, and then the Proto-Bulgarians arrived and somehow supplemented the existing rituals. This is how the traditions were formed, and then they gradually developed, and even the Ottoman yoke did not interfere with this too much. Modern Bulgarian kukers dance in the streets to scare away evil spirits and drive away winter, and to ensure that the year brings health and fertility, they perform various rituals.

The Kuker games are held in various Bulgarian cities from January 1 to the end of February. This is a pagan tradition, and so ancient that it is difficult to determine exactly when the first Kukers appeared. Thracian customs mixed with the fun of the Bacchus worshipers, then the Slavs arrived with their habits and deities. Well, and then the Proto-Bulgarians arrived and somehow supplemented the existing rituals. This is how the traditions were formed, and then they gradually developed, and even the Ottoman yoke did not interfere with this too much. Modern Bulgarian kukers dance in the streets to scare away evil spirits and drive away winter, and to ensure that the year brings health and fertility, they perform various rituals.

The Kuker games are held in various Bulgarian cities from January 1 to the end of February. This is a pagan tradition, and so ancient that it is difficult to determine exactly when the first Kukers appeared. Thracian customs mixed with the fun of the Bacchus worshipers, then the Slavs arrived with their habits and deities. Well, and then the Proto-Bulgarians arrived and somehow supplemented the existing rituals. This is how the traditions were formed, and then they gradually developed, and even the Ottoman yoke did not interfere with this too much. Modern Bulgarian kukers dance in the streets to scare away evil spirits and drive away winter, and to ensure that the year brings health and fertility, they perform various rituals.

The Kuker games are held in various Bulgarian cities from January 1 to the end of February. This is a pagan tradition, and so ancient that it is difficult to determine exactly when the first Kukers appeared. Thracian customs mixed with the fun of the Bacchus worshipers, then the Slavs arrived with their habits and deities. Well, and then the Proto-Bulgarians arrived and somehow supplemented the existing rituals. This is how the traditions were formed, and then they gradually developed, and even the Ottoman yoke did not interfere with this too much. Modern Bulgarian kukers dance in the streets to scare away evil spirits and drive away winter, and to ensure that the year brings health and fertility, they perform various rituals.

The Kuker games are held in various Bulgarian cities from January 1 to the end of February. This is a pagan tradition, and so ancient that it is difficult to determine exactly when the first Kukers appeared. Thracian customs mixed with the fun of the Bacchus worshipers, then the Slavs arrived with their habits and deities. Well, and then the Proto-Bulgarians arrived and somehow supplemented the existing rituals. This is how the traditions were formed, and then they gradually developed, and even the Ottoman yoke did not interfere with this too much. Modern Bulgarian kukers dance in the streets to scare away evil spirits and drive away winter, and to ensure that the year brings health and fertility, they perform various rituals.

The Kuker games are held in various Bulgarian cities from January 1 to the end of February. This is a pagan tradition, and so ancient that it is difficult to determine exactly when the first Kukers appeared. Thracian customs mixed with the fun of the Bacchus worshipers, then the Slavs arrived with their habits and deities. Well, and then the Proto-Bulgarians arrived and somehow supplemented the existing rituals. This is how the traditions were formed, and then they gradually developed, and even the Ottoman yoke did not interfere with this too much. Modern Bulgarian kukers dance in the streets to scare away evil spirits and drive away winter, and to ensure that the year brings health and fertility, they perform various rituals.

The Kuker games are held in various Bulgarian cities from January 1 to the end of February. This is a pagan tradition, and so ancient that it is difficult to determine exactly when the first Kukers appeared. Thracian customs mixed with the fun of the Bacchus worshipers, then the Slavs arrived with their habits and deities. Well, and then the Proto-Bulgarians arrived and somehow supplemented the existing rituals. This is how the traditions were formed, and then they gradually developed, and even the Ottoman yoke did not interfere with this too much. Modern Bulgarian kukers dance in the streets to scare away evil spirits and drive away winter, and to ensure that the year brings health and fertility, they perform various rituals.

The construction of the Cathedral began at the end of the 12th century. It was consecrated on November 18, 1179. After 1258, the construction was supervised by Cistercian monks from the nearby monastery of San Galgano. At the end of the 13th century, work began on decorating the façade. From 1284 to 1296, they were supervised by Giovanni Pisano. The lower part of the façade was designed according to his plan. The upper part with a large round window (oculus) was completed at the beginning of the 14th century under the supervision of Giovanni di Cecco. The mosaics on the pediments were made in 1878 by Luigi Mussini (central) and Alessandro Franchi (side). The time of construction of the Bell Tower (Campanile) is not known for certain, but it was completed after the dome (probably 1313)

The construction of the Cathedral began at the end of the 12th century. It was consecrated on November 18, 1179. After 1258, the construction was supervised by Cistercian monks from the nearby monastery of San Galgano. At the end of the 13th century, work began on decorating the façade. From 1284 to 1296, they were supervised by Giovanni Pisano. The lower part of the façade was designed according to his plan. The upper part with a large round window (oculus) was completed at the beginning of the 14th century under the supervision of Giovanni di Cecco. The mosaics on the pediments were made in 1878 by Luigi Mussini (central) and Alessandro Franchi (side). The time of construction of the Bell Tower (Campanile) is not known for certain, but it was completed after the dome (probably 1313)