Every year on the night of January 13 villagers in Bulgaria's western regions of Pernik and Breznik gather in a festival to to scare away evil and bring good health and bountiful crops. People dance around bonfires and on the next day visit all village houses dressed in furry costumes and scary masks and sounding large bells. The folk feast known as "Surva" or "Surova" is on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage and health authorities in Bulgaria allowed locals to pursue their tradition this year despite the coronavirus pandemic. However participants were required to follow anti-virus measures so instead of their scary animal masks, many participants wore face masks.
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