Kukeri, Kalipetrovo village, Silistra Municipality, Silistra Province, Northeastern Bulgaria, 2024

The kukeri in Silistra region have a unique appearance. Their faces are covered in spherical bunches of colored fabrics, almost resembling a tightly packed assemblage of pom-poms. They have a hook-like beak, wear a headdress of brightly colored feathers and flowy ribbons, and a beard made from plumage. From an outsider’s perspective, the masks appear bird-like, in their own magical, whimsical way.