In Romania, like in other parts of the world, children go caroling at Christmas. In Romania, however, children wear real bear skins as they go from house to house, singing and dancing.

Before the advent of Christianity, the bear was considered sacred, and the ancient tradition of children performing traditional songs to ward off evil in the new year is still popular in Romania.

After the country's economic downturn, however, the tradition has moved from the countryside to the cities and children now perform for money from Christmas Eve until the New Year.

Additional reporting by The Associated Press