Croatians drive out winter in elaborate Didi s Kamesnice ritual

In northern Croatia, a usually quiet village gets alive with the sound of bells, horns and cheering. A parade of 'Didi,' decked in ribbons and rams wool, dances from house to house searching for a bridegroom in the hopes of driving off winter and bringing about a prosperous year.

The yearly Didi s Kamesnice, or 'Old Men of Kamesnice,' carnival is one of Central Europe's most unusual end of winter traditions, and one with unknown origins.

"We don't have any written record since the village was founded about 200 years ago," says Ante Gulic, president of the association keeping the tradition alive, "it seems to me that it is somehow a pagan custom that has been accepted in Christianity today."

Each January, the unruly 'Didi' in their tall ram's skin headdress search for a groom for their pregnant 'bride,' visiting homes and enjoying food and drink before their host tells there is no groom in the house. So they continue until they reach the end of the village, never finding the groom and beginning the search anew each year.

For locals, the annual tradition brings colour and noise to a time of year that historically brought hardship for rural communities.

"The bell ringers drive away the dark winter and herald better days," says Gulic. 

Production: Antonio Bronic, Thomas Holdstock/Reuters