Every year, on the last Sunday of the last week before Easter fasting, children in the village Lozovik participate in the carnival, called “Bele poklade”. It could be translated like White carnival, because it is organized at the end of the White week, the week in which it is forbidden to eat meet, but dairy products and eggs can be eaten. After this week, it is not allowed to eat anything of this. This carnival has its roots in old pagan customs and it is now an example of their partial syncretism with christianity. There are several symbolic meanings of this carnival. First, it is the end of the cold period and people try to show their respect to the cult of the Sun and to ask nature forces for a good weather and good conditions for agriculture. Also, lots of noise and shouting and colorful masks is a good way to banish evil demons. At the end of the carnival, people jump over a fire to clean themselves and the air of all the negativity and to scare witches. During a day masked children are going through the village, shouting and making noise, asking villagers for sweets and eggs. Serbia, Lozovik, 22.02.2015.

Photographer: Marko Rupena©Kamerades