ALTculture 01/2020 - People of the Balkans Scaring away the Winter bad Spirits to Herald a Joyful Spring By Nikolin Svetlana In many parts of the world this period of the year is always connected with carnivals with which people wish to mark joyfully, colourfully and loudly that spring is coming. In many places especially rural areas of the Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe all these parades, masquerade parties, dances, street theatre performances receive different shape connected with ancient pagan customs.