Participants dressed in intricately crafted animal hides, adorned with masks and bells, gathered to celebrate the “Illyrian Carnivals,” marking the event’s inaugural occurrence in the historic city of Prizren, Kosovo. This festival originates from the village of Bozovcë in the Tetova municipality. Neshat Mehmedi, a representative of the “Illyrian Carnivals” association, emphasized that the event is an ancient manifestation of cultural heritage, with its precise beginnings largely obscured by time. Until 1980, these carnivals were celebrated in the villages of the Malësia region of the Shar Mountains and Korabi.

Unlike the carnivals held in Albania, the Illyrian Carnivals maintain a distinctly original character, free from foreign influences.

A significant feature of the performance included girls dressed as brides, their faces painted white—a traditional symbol representing the purity of the Illyrian woman.

The “Illyrian Carnivals” drew a considerable number of participants from Tetova, Malësia e Sharrit, Prizren, Tirana, and Korça. Typically held in March, the festivities in Bozovcë herald the arrival of spring and the departure of winter. This time-honored tradition serves to showcase and celebrate the cultural heritage and values of the Albanian people, highlighting the profound connections among Albanians from diverse regions.

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