Bulgaria's winter brides: A Pomak wedding tradition | DW Documentary

In Bulgaria, Pomak Muslims marry in a rare winter ritual that predates Islam. The vibrant ceremony blends faith, color and symbolism and is unique in the world. In the Bulgarian mountain village of Ribnovo, home to about 3,000 people, every wedding is a cultural event. Women from the groom's family paint and decorate the bride's face. With her eyes closed, she is led into her husband's home, where the makeup is removed again. Only then may she open her eyes, marking the start of her new life.

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