Vevchani, 14 January 2026 (MIA) – This year’s Vevchani Carnival is to close Wednesday afternoon with the traditional Vasilica folk dance and the burning of the masks in the village center.

By burning the masks, evil is symbolically chased away, and Vevchani residents believe that, thus purified, they will welcome the New Year according to the Julian calendar.

Earlier in the day, the groom, the bride, the devils and foolish Augusts, accompanied by other masked revelers, will visit the homes of people named after Saint Basil.

As in past years, the carnival once again addressed topical issues in the country and around the globe, including migrant camps, the political situation at home, investments in Dubai, and the halt of oil and financial support from the United States to Cuba…

Over the past two days, Vevchani has been an open theatrical stage, without a script or director, where large numbers of masked locals parade before their fellow residents as well as numerous visitors from the country and abroad.

The Vevchani Carnival dates back to the founding of the village, with a tradition spanning some 15 centuries. It symbolizes two parallel worlds, one rooted in paganism and the other in Christianity. The event marks the Christian feast of Saint Basil the Great, or the arrival of the New Year according to the old, Julian calendar.

Photo: MIA archive