FESTIVAL DES COUTUMES ANCESTRALES DE COMĂNEȘTI

On 30 December, this small town in Moldova is the scene of a spectacular ritual with pre-Christian roots: the "dance of the bears". Many inhabitants don real bear skins, handed down from generation to generation, and parade through the streets dancing, singing and growling to chase away the evil spirits of the past year and keep them away from the new one to come. The bear symbolizes rebirth, capable of overcoming winter and heralding spring.