In January 2019, I was lucky enough to witness one of the most amazing Carnivals – the Balkans-Vevchanski carnival. The carnival that has been ongoing for centuries is an interesting mix of paganism and modernism. It is held on 13th and 14th January (on the eve of and on the first day of the New Year, according to the old orthodox calendar), or day of Saint Vasil.

The main characteristics of the carnival are archaism, secretiveness, and improvisation. The sharp satire leaves nothing untouched, targeting the national leadership, politics, religion and social issues. According to its specific features, this carnival is unique and one of a kind. The arena of the carnival event is the whole village of Vevcani, which turns in an open theatre of its kind where each house, each street is a scene onto which disguised people perform their plays like real actors.

There are three traditional masks: bride, groom, August the Stupid and musicians. A bride is a man disguised as a woman, dressed in traditional folk clothes. The role of August the Stupid is particularly distinct. Young people, full of energy bear this mask and communicate with the audience by peculiar movements and gesticulations, waiving with whips made of animal tales trying to chase away the bad spirits as they walk ahead of the bride and the groom.

In the early hours of the 14th of January on temperatures down to -20C around 2 am most of the village follows the bride and the groom to the springs where they collect water that they use to make the special bread the next morning. On the morning of the 14th, all disguised people also called Vasilicari go around the village visiting each household that has the name of Vasil, dancing and singing in each house. During the carnival, the disguised participants enjoy all possible freedom and passion to “place the world upside down”, freedom in which the creativity of the spirit is expressed, as well as the sense for improvisation, criticism, and sarcasm. At the end of the carnival, the masks are taken off and burned in the middle of the village – a symbolic act of purification to chase out the evil spirits.

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It seems like those big, eye-catching earrings are the accessory trend for 2023. Totally understandable, considering we spent the last 3 years with masks on our faces, and big earrings were not exactly a comfortable combo. But we’re convinced there’s an equally cool trend on the rise when it comes to our ears — and that’s tattoos. It might sound weird, but ear tattoos often sport delicate designs that are perfect for those looking to add a personal touch without going overboard.

We won’t lie — for how ridiculously versatile they may be, getting an ear tattoo is not a piece of cake due to the area’s sensitivity. But as the saying goes, no pain, no gain. And with ear tattoos, the gain is oh-so-worth it.

That said, if you’re willing to stand the pain, ear tattoos are a great way to add fun and flare to your look — they’re perfect for those who don’t feel like committing to a large piece. Plus, depending on your hairstyle, they can be subtle enough to go unnoticed, which is especially useful if your job industry is not one to accept even dainty tattoos that easily.

And the best part? There are so many options when it comes to ear tattoo ideas. You can go for small tattoos , like a tiny flower or a heart, or something bolder and more daring, like a dragon or a snake that curls around your ear. And let’s not forget about the coolest spot — the evergreen behind-the-ear tattoos !

Guess what? We’re here with some tattoo inspo for you! From cute tattoos to bold designs, you will undoubtedly be tempted to schedule an appointment with your artist after perusing them all!

For a more intricate sleeve-style design, take a look at our elbow tattoo ideas that blend well with armband tattoos

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