In March, the famous Bulgarian International Masquerade Festival "Kukerlandia" grandly opened in the city of Yambol. This year’s festival attracted nearly 2,000 masked participants, ranging from young children to Kukeri nearly 90 years old.
The festival parade started from Yambol's iconic landmarks—Branekova House and the old Mineral Bath—and proceeded along Georgi Sava Rakovski Street to the City Hall Square, showcasing the country's rich and colorful folk culture along the way.
During the opening ceremony, Yambol’s mayor, Valentin Rewanski, stated, "The International Masquerade Festival 'Kukerlandia' is one of the most vibrant, authentic, and beloved events in Bulgaria's cultural calendar. It is not just a visual spectacle but a vivid testament to the strength of the Bulgarian spirit and the richness of our cultural heritage."
Notably, students from the Chinese class of "Vasil Levski" High School in Ruse were also invited to participate in this grand event. They presented a unique Chinese dragon dance performance, becoming one of the highlights of the festival. The student-led dragon dance team displayed synchronized and energetic movements, while the solo ribbon dragon performance showcased the dragon’s fluidity and elegance, earning enthusiastic applause from the audience.
This performance not only demonstrated the cultural exchange between China and Bulgaria but also strengthened the friendship between young people from both countries. The students once again showcased their outstanding talent and introduced the charm of traditional Chinese culture to the Bulgarian audience.