Bear Ball

The 'Ballad of the Bear Man' is a carnival tradition that takes place in Jelsi and is characterised as a folk ritual of rebirth and purification. According to legend, a wild bear emerges from the woods and runs through the alleys of the village, arousing fear among the inhabitants, then is tamed, tied with chains and 'forced' to dance under the threat of a stick, while musicians accompany him with folk songs and sounds.