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 The
main device to create a character and the reincarnation of the participants
is the costume and the mask. The  clothes
used by the Koukers are quite various in the different regions. They aren’t
strictly defined of some variations are allowed. The common features are
animal furs – ship, goat, and coast turn inside out; handing bells. An
attribute that often appear in the ritual is the wooden sword called “pomet”
or “clunk”.The dominant element is the  mask.
It’s a part of the whole costume and gives generalization of the character.
The zoomorph masks are widely spread. They represent wild, domestic and
fantastic animals and birds. The mask is made from the sculls and boards
covered with nailed furs feathers, wool, horns, sometimes kratuns are used.
The bride’s costume (typical for the district) with bride’s attributes
is put on over male clothes. The other characters- the old woman, the gypsy
woman, the old man, the king, the  priest,
the bear and the doctor are various and traditional. This group includes
the “camel”, the horse, the doe and etc. They all have some local
variations.
The Koukers’ custom has carnival characteristics. It’s a performance with it’s own composition, non-written traditional script, defined in advance. This gives opportunity for some improvisations. The script consists of scenes mixed in a plot. There are some local variations. |
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