Instrumentalizacja języka tureckiego i symbolicznej siły strachu w formach ekspresji tożsamościowej w bułgarskich maskaradach kukierów

Bulgarian masquerades, known as kukeri games, are traditional carnival performances that continue to be enacted today. Now commonly perceived as elements of national folklore, their roots lie in ancient rural customs of the region. This paper explorees the acts of masking and participation in these masquerades, highlighting and interpreting elements through which individuals and communities articulate their identities in processes of differentiation and interaction. Particular attention is given to the symbolic power of fear embodied in the ritual role of the kuker, which serves to delineate, sustain, and reanimate intra-community boundaries within interpersonal relations. A notable focus is placed on the contemporary use of language, especially Turkish, as a tool for articulating identity in this multi-ethnic region.