Being fascinated by Romanian folklore, I wanted to document the traditional Romanian winter costumes, handed down from generation to generation, which appear every year on December 31 and sometimes even earlier. These costumes are not just a form of entertainment, but a powerful ritual meant to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck for the coming year.

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As I studied these costumes and the accompanying dances, I became impressed by their mystical power and significance. The characters that are presented through these costumes - bears, goats, old women, old men - are not just performers, but embodiments of ancient archetypes that have been passed down through the ages.

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Through their dances and performances, these characters enact a powerful ritual that serves to cleanse the village of negative energies and to invite positive energies in for the coming year. They shout good wishes to the audience, invoking the power of the divine and the mystical to bring blessings and good fortune to all who witness their performances.

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At the heart of this ritual is the belief in the power of tradition and the importance of honoring the wisdom of the past. These costumes and dances are not just a form of entertainment, but a living connection to the ancient wisdom and mystical knowledge that has been passed down through generations.

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Through this photo series, I seek to honor and preserve this ancient tradition, and to invite viewers to contemplate the deep mystical significance of these costumes and the dances that accompany them. As we witness these performances, we are reminded of the power of tradition and the importance of honoring the wisdom of the past in order to bring blessings and good fortune into our lives.