Leading the bear

In Russia and Ukraine, during New Year's Eve, processions with a dressed-up bear and a goat pass through the villages. In the old days, there were frequent processions with a live human-led bear as well as the Bear Dance in the group of the so-called skomorokhs. Dishes are prepared for the bear, such as mamaliga or pierogi, to bribe it so that it does not damage people's property. The bear is also invited to dinner at Maslenitsa. == In the South Slavic region ==

In January, at Saint Sebastian on 14 January, in Serbia and Bulgaria, to protect the bear against the bear's hunt, it is given boiled corn overnight, i.e. mamaliga, corn grains or bread. ==References==