04:29People dressed up in genuine bearskins and paraded through the streets of Comanesti and Racova, as seen on Tuesday and Wednesday, to celebrate an old tradition marking the new year's rebirth.
Dancers wore costumes made from bearskins and decorated with hanging red tassels, grunting and swaying to the rhythm of drums.
"I am doing that since I was five years old and I go every year with my parents to every house to kick out the devil spirits," said 14-year-old festival participant Amelia.
The tradition stems from the pre-Christian times, which saw people dressed in animal furs or coloured costumes, performing a ritual warding off evil spirits. A bear was considered a sacred animal in ancient Romania and as the legend has it, can bring luck, health and welfare.
Can you bear-live it? Bear dancers celebrate coming year at traditional Romanian festival
People dressed up in genuine bearskins and paraded through the streets of Comanesti and Racova, as seen on Tuesday and Wednesday, to celebrate an old tradition marking the new year's rebirth.
Dancers wore costumes made from bearskins and decorated with hanging red tassels, grunting and swaying to the rhythm of drums.
"I am doing that since I was five years old and I go every year with my parents to every house to kick out the devil spirits," said 14-year-old festival participant Amelia.
The tradition stems from the pre-Christian times, which saw people dressed in animal furs or coloured costumes, performing a ritual warding off evil spirits. A bear was considered a sacred animal in ancient Romania and as the legend has it, can bring luck, health and welfare.
People dressed up in genuine bearskins and paraded through the streets of Comanesti and Racova, as seen on Tuesday and Wednesday, to celebrate an old tradition marking the new year's rebirth.
Dancers wore costumes made from bearskins and decorated with hanging red tassels, grunting and swaying to the rhythm of drums.
"I am doing that since I was five years old and I go every year with my parents to every house to kick out the devil spirits," said 14-year-old festival participant Amelia.
The tradition stems from the pre-Christian times, which saw people dressed in animal furs or coloured costumes, performing a ritual warding off evil spirits. A bear was considered a sacred animal in ancient Romania and as the legend has it, can bring luck, health and welfare.