Bulgaria: Hardy men dance the Hora in the icy Tundzha river for Epiphany

Dozens of men from Kalofer waded into the icy waters of the Tundzha river and danced the Hora in a traditional male-only event to celebrate the Christian holiday of Epiphany, on Friday. The men dressed in national costume and dived into the freezing waters to find a crucifix thrown in by the priest before handing it to the youngest participant of the dance. The participants then danced and sang traditional Bulgarian songs to the sound of bagpipes and drums. Locals believe the tradition will keep them healthy for the coming year. Many of them drunk litres of red wine to help them withstand the sub-zero temperatures. Video ID: 20170106- 017 Video on Demand: Contact: cd@ Twitter: Facebook: