Speaker of Parliament Tsveta Karayancheva has opened the 27th International Masquerade Games Festival “Surva” 2018 in front of the Palace of Culture in Pernik.

The festival in Pernik is a symbol of our national identity, brings unique emotional intensity and gives us confidence that we are a great nation, said the Speaker of Parliament in her welcome address. Today Pernik is a capital of Bulgaria because the best kukeri and survakari from all ethnographic regions meet here; this is a celebration of talent and joy, a day, when nature becomes alive at the unique sound of bells and vividness of the masks, added Tsveta Karayancheva.

It is no accident that this spectacular event is part of our country’s presentation during the presidency of the Council of the EU, because it is an integral part of the world’s cultural treasures and shows us through sound and image one of the key messages of the Presidency and the community in general: Europe is united in diversity, she added.

The Speaker of Parliament thanked the Municipality of Pernik and the Ministry of Culture for keeping and promoting this ritual and bringing us close to its magic power.

After taking part in the Surva torchlight procession, Tsveta Karayancheva attended the concert and performance entitled “In the Heart of Surva”.