January 7 (BTA) - The Surva festival in Pernik, held annually in January, has been cancelled for a third year in a row. Chief State Health Inspector Angel Kunchev Friday sent a letter to Pernik Municipality saying that the 29th Surva International Festival of Masquerade Games cannot be held due to the surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

The previous two editions of the Surva festival were cancelled over the water crisis in Pernik in 2020 and the COVID pandemic in 2021.

Pernik Deputy Mayor Stefan Krastev said that when the organization for the festival began last month, the epidemic situation was different. After the Christmas and New Year holidays, Pernik entered the dark-red zone for new COVID cases (over 500 cases per 100,000 population on a two-week basis).

Over 70 dance groups from across Bulgaria had registered to participate in this year's Surva, as well as foreign groups, he also said.

The festival was scheduled to start on January 13 and continue on three consecutive weekends so as to prevent large gatherings. The vision for Surva 2022 will be used next year, Pernik Municipality said.

Surva is on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. All villages around Pernik take part in the greatest winter festival, the feast of St. Basil according to the Julian calendar. Bands of masked celebrators dance to mark the New Year according to popular custom, January 13/14.

Even closed houses are opened at Surva and there is joyful bustling of family and friends everywhere. Guests are met with local rakiya brandy, ritual bread, red wine, a variety of meat dishes, banitsa pastry with cheese and leek, as well as pickles. Surva dancers tour the houses and wish their occupants good health and prosperity.

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