Dancers, known as “Kukeri”, perform on January 30, 2015 during the International Festival of the Masquerade Games in Pernik near the capital Sofia. The three-day festival, which started on January 29, has participants sporting multi-colored masks, covered with beads, ribbons and woolen tassels while the main dancer, ladened with bells to drive away sickness and evil spirits, sways like a wheat spikelet heavy with grain. (Photo by Nikolay Doychinov/AFP Photo)





Mask dancers take part in a parade during the the International Festival of Masquerade Games “Surva” in the town of Pernik, some 30 km from Sofia, Bulgaria, January 31, 2016. (Photo by Vassil Donev/EPA)





A participant dressed in traditional costume carries his mask during the International Festival of the Masquerade Games in the town of Pernik, Bulgaria January 30, 2016. (Photo by Stoyan Nenov/Reuters)





Participants in traditional costumes dance during the International Festival of the Masquerade Games in the town of Pernik, Bulgaria January 30, 2016. The annual festival features participants from across Europe, Asia and Africa. (Photo by Stoyan Nenov/Reuters)





A participant dressed in traditional costume holds his mask during the International Festival of the Masquerade Games in the town of Pernik, Bulgaria January 30, 2016. (Photo by Stoyan Nenov/Reuters)





Participants in traditional costumes perform during the International Festival of the Masquerade Games in the town of Pernik, Bulgaria January 30, 2016. (Photo by Stoyan Nenov/Reuters)





A participant dressed in traditional costume carries her mask during the International Festival of the Masquerade Games in the town of Pernik, Bulgaria January 30, 2016. (Photo by Stoyan Nenov/Reuters)





Participants in traditional costumes attend the International Festival of the Masquerade Games in the town of Pernik, Bulgaria January 30, 2016. (Photo by Stoyan Nenov/Reuters)





A participant dressed in traditional costume carries his mask during the International Festival of the Masquerade Games in the town of Pernik, Bulgaria January 30, 2016. (Photo by Stoyan Nenov/Reuters)





Participants in traditional costumes attend the International Festival of the Masquerade Games in the town of Pernik, Bulgaria January 30, 2016. (Photo by Stoyan Nenov/Reuters)