The ‘Kalyady Tsars’ (Cristmas Kings) is a walking greeting rite with some elements of the traditional Kalyady (Christmas) carnival and ‘Tsar Maksimilijan’ folk drama, which is timed to Ščodry Viečar (New Year’s Eve by the ‘old style’ Julian calendar) celebrated on January 13. This pageant was formed as an original Christmas performance, with only young men performing the roles as the ‘Tsars’ (Kings). Normally, there are seven ‘Tsars’, each having a particular name, such ...
